From chaos to Kounde in just three minutes! Unexpected hero rescues Barca

Before Tuesday night, Jules Kounde scored eight goals for Barcelona across all competitions since his arrival in 2022.

And then, it took him only three minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League to score a brace, thus turning the game upside down as the Blaugrana came from behind to beat the Germans 2-1!

Barca returned to their mythical Camp Nou for the first time in the UCL after 1,505 days and were desperate to get a win that could get them in contention for the next round. The losses to PSG and Chelsea, along with a disappointing draw against Club Brugge, put Hansi Flick's side on the back foot. However, the visitors had their own plans, and their determination was almost palpable, especially in defence, where a couple of statement-tackles made it clear for Pedri, Yamal and others that it would be anything but just another day in the office for Barcelona stars.

Moreover, when Frankfurt successfully exploited Barca's most significant flaw this season - a fragile and too high defensive back line - and Knauff broke the deadlock, the abyss was so close for the Catalans.

Flick knew he must react promptly and he did it during the break, as Marcus Rashford came on and delivered almost immediately. The Manchester United forward on loan at Camp Nou sent an immaculate cross for Kounde. The French international buried a header to level the score at the 50th-minute mark.

If that was surprising, what should we say about Kounde's second, just three minutes later?! The same place, even the cross from the same, left-hand side, only this time it was Lamine Yamal instead of Rashford. The outcome? Shockingly, the same. Kounde's second header was just as good as the first, proving lethal for Eintracht's keeper, Zetterer.

Out of the blue, totally unexpected, it was the experienced defender and not those attacking stars - Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Rashford - who put his name on the scoreboard for a massive comeback and crucial victory.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Matchday 6

Tuesday

Kairat Almaty - Olympiacos 0-1 (0-0)

/Martins 73/

Bayern Munich - Sporting Lisbon 3-1 (0-0)

/Gnabry 65, Karl 69, Tah 77 - Kimmich 54 (og)/

Atalanta - Chelsea 2-1 (0-1)

/Scamacca 55, De Ketelaere 83 - Pedro 25/

Barcelona - Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 (0-1)

/Knauff 21, Kounde 50, 53/

Inter Milan - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)

/Szoboszlai 88 pen/

Monaco - Galatasaray 1-0 (0-0)

/Balogun 68/

PSV Eindhoven - Atletico Madrid 2-3 (1-1)

/Til 10, Pepi 85 - Alvarez 37, Hancko 52, Sorloth 56/

St. Gilloise - Olympique Marseille 2-3 (1-2)

/Khalaili 5, 71 - Paixao 15, Greenwood 41, 58/

Tottenham - Slavia Prague 3-0 (1-0)

/Zima 26 og, Kudus 50 pen, Simons 79 pen/

Wednesday

20.45: (2.00) Qarabag (3.60) Ajax (4.00)

20.45: (1.45) Villarreal (4.50) Copenhagen (7.00)

23.00: (5.80) Athletic Bilbao (3.80) PSG (1.62)

23.00: (2.40) Benfica (3.40) Napoli (3.20)

23.00: (10.0) Club Brugge (5.20) Arsenal (1.37)

23.00: (1.28) Borussia Dortmund (6.00) Bodo/Glimt (9.50)

23.00: (1.18) Juventus (7.25) Pafos (15.0)

23.00: (3.10) Bayer Leverkusen (3.50) Newcastle (2.40)

23.00: (2.55) Real Madrid (3.85) Manchester City (2.65)

***odds are subject to change***