Three talking points as Barcelona secure 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt | OneFootball

FC Barcelona were in a must-win situation to secure qualification to the next round of the Champions League. The Catalan club is still not in a position to secure a top-eight finish, but looks comfortable to progress.

Eintracht Frankfurt gave Barcelona quite the scare at the Spotify Camp Nou, taking a 1–0 lead and holding Hansi Flick’s team off in the first half. In the second 45, though, the Spanish side proved too hot to handle for the Germans.

Jules Koundé was the unlikely saviour for Barcelona on the night, scoring a quick-fire brace in the second half. It was the Frenchman’s intelligent run into the box that ended up being the decisive factor.

With all this in mind, here are three talking points for Barcelona as they secured an impressive 2–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

1: Jules Koundé’s day in the sun

A lot has been said about Jules Koundé’s form so far this season, and rightly so. The Frenchman has been a pale shadow of his former self, and there have been calls for Eric Garcia to start ahead of him as the first-choice right-back.

However, against Eintracht Frankfurt last night, Koundé emerged as an excellent saviour for Barcelona. He found himself in the right place at the right time, putting the ball in the net twice in quick succession to complete the comeback.

The clinical nature of Kounde’s finishing should provide an excellent confidence boost for the upcoming games. This might be the spark he needs to rediscover the level he showed repeatedly last season.

Despite his wavering form, Koundé continues to have the complete trust of Hansi Flick and the management. He is a quality player, and it is only a matter of time before he returns to his best on the right flank.

2: Marcus Rashford

With Barcelona trailing at half-time, Hansi Flick made a substitution that proved a masterstroke. The German manager brought on Marcus Rashford for Fermín López, and he started on the left wing, with Raphinha moving central.

It took only a few minutes for Marcus to provide an outstanding cross to find Jules Koundé’s head. Fans are becoming accustomed to this trademark delivery from the Englishman.

Although there are doubts over Rashford’s fit in the team and his contribution out of possession, his sheer attacking numbers are outstanding: six goals and eleven assists in twenty-one appearances is an excellent return for an on-loan forward.

It remains to be seen whether Barcelona plan to sign Rashford permanently at the end of the season. Only time will tell.

3: Ferran vs Lewandowski debate

The Ferran vs Lewandowski debate continues to haunt Hansi Flick after every passing game. There are times when the Pole looks superior, but the numbers suggest the Spaniard should be Barcelona’s number nine.

Lewandowski remains an excellent box presence and Flick’s first choice for big games, but his lack of pace seems to be hurting him. Ferran, on the other hand, looks like a man possessed and has the confidence of a sharpshooter.

Last night, the Pole failed to influence the game as he usually would, and Ferran did more after coming on. The Spaniard was fresh off a hat-trick against Real Betis and, in hindsight, should have started against Frankfurt.

It will be interesting to see who eventually gets the nod as Barcelona’s starting 9 in the coming months. Let us wait and see how things play out under Hansi Flick.