Barça entered the break under pressure, having fallen behind to Ansgar Knauff’s well-taken first-half strike. The early setback unsettled the hosts, who had briefly believed they were ahead when Robert Lewandowski finished powerfully, only for the effort to be ruled out due to Raphinha drifting offside during the build-up.
Despite the frustration, Barcelona maintained territorial control and continued to test Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, with Gerard Martín drawing a sharp, airborne save to keep the deficit intact. Yet it was after halftime that the match shifted dramatically. Koundé, demonstrating precision and determination, rose above the defence twice in quick succession to head home a pair of vital goals, transforming the momentum and restoring belief within a side navigating a tightly packed league table.
Head coach Hansi Flick praised the team’s tactical discipline and resilience after the win, noting that the players responded exactly as instructed during the interval. “I was really happy because we show the team two situations—how we want to do it,” Flick said. “We have the space we need to cover and they made it. It’s always the same with the team; they know what to do, and they do it. At the moment it works. I am really happy about this. I am happy we came back. Jules with his mentality is absolutely important for us.”
The result strengthens Barcelona’s position in the competition’s group phase and underscores the importance of Koundé’s leadership at a moment when every point carries weight. With the knockout rounds approaching and the standings tightening, Barça’s ability to recover under pressure may prove pivotal in their European campaign.
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