Improved Frankfurt lose in Barcelona

Barcelona 2-1 Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Knauff 21' (assist: Brown), 1-1 Koundé 50' (assist: Rashford), 2-1 Koundé 53' (assist: Yamal)

After losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta last time out in the Champions League and 6-0 away to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga at the weekend, Frankfurt were keen to display a different side to their game in Barcelona.

Dino Toppmöller decided to deploy his troops in a well-organised low block to try and deny Barcelona space. However, that tactic very nearly came undone after just 10 minutes, when Robert Lewandowski slid in to turn home a Raphinha cross from the left. Luckily for the visitors, Raphinha was offside in the build-up, and the goal was chalked off.

Just four minutes later, Michael Zetterer was called into action when Gerard Martín let fly from the edge of the box, but the Frankfurt keeper was alert to make a good stop.

Then came the Frankfurt sucker punch as Nathaniel Brown pinched the ball off Lamine Yamal and skipped past a couple of tackles to set Ansgar Knauff free through the centre. The forward then held off the challenge of Alejandro Balde before slotting past Joan García to give the visitors a shock lead with their first shot of the game.

Just before the break, Ellyes Skhiri almost added a second, but could only curl his effort over the bar.

Frankfurt continued to push immediately after the break, as first Farès Chaïbi had a shot from range saved, and then a deflected cross was clawed away from danger by Joan García.

However, Barcelona emerged from the break with renewed vigour, as substitute Marcus Rashford caused the visitors immediate problems. Just moments after creating a big chance for Raphinha, the Englishman got his assist when he sent in a superb cross from the left that Koundé stooped to power home with a bullet header.

Then, just three minutes later, the Frenchman added a second to give Barcelona the lead as the hosts worked a short corner to Yamal, who once again found Koundé at the back post to head home.

The goals opened the game up as Frankfurt were forced to come out of their shell, leading to a chance at both ends in the 59th minute as first Arthur Theate was denied at one end, before the defender turned saviour at the other to block a dangerous Rashford effort.

Three minutes later, Raphinha worked himself some space with some quick feet and forced Zetterer into another good stop. Ferran Torres then kept the Frankfurt keeper honest in the 71st minute when he forced Zetterer into two more saves.

Frankfurt tried to push for an equaliser late on as Can Uzun made his return to action, but in the end, Barcelona held on to grind out the narrow win.

The result sees Frankfurt slip to 30th in the league phase with just four points from six games and in danger of dropping out of the competition.

Match stats

• Frankfurt beat Barcelona 3-2 in Spain the last time these teams met, in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final in 2021/22, en route to winning the title. 
• Knauff and Timothy Chandler are the only players still in the Frankfurt squad from those games.
• Eintracht reached the last 16 in their previous Champions League campaign in 2022/23. 
• Since beating Galatasaray 5-1 on Matchday 1, the Eagles have registered four defeats and a draw in the Champions League. 
• Barcelona's Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter-Stegen, Andreas Christensen (both Borussia Mönchengladbach), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), and coach Hansi Flick (Bayern) have all spent time in the Bundesliga. 

CONFIRMED teams

Barcelona: J. García – Koundé, Cubarsi, Martín, Baldé (Christensen 89’) – E. García, Pedri – Yamal (Bardghji 89’), López (Rashford 46’), Raphinha (c) (De Jong 66’) – Lewandowski (Torres 66’)
Unused subs: Ter Stegen, Szczęsny, Casado, Bernal, Torrents, Fernández,
Out: Araújo (suspended), Gavi (knee), Olmo (shoulder)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Frankfurt: Zetterer – Kristensen, Koch (c), Theate, Brown – Skhiri, Larsson (Dahoud 68’) – Dōan (Ngankam 89’), Chaïbi (Bahoya 77’), Götze (Uzun 77’) – Knauff (Wahi 68’)
Unused subs: Grahl, Kauã Santos, Baum, Amenda, Højlund, Buta, Collins
Out: Batshuayi (foot), Burkardt (calf), Chandler (knock)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller

As it happened!