NOU CAMP ROARS: JULES KOUNDE DOUBLE COMPLETES BARCELONA COMEBACK VS FRANKFURT
Jules Kounde was the hero, scoring two goals in four minutes to power Barcelona's 2-1 Champions League comeback win against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Nou Camp.
Jules Kounde scored twice as Barcelona came back from a goal down to beat Eintracht Frankfurt in their first Champions League game at the Nou Camp in over three years.
Frankfurt took the lead in the 21st minute when Ansgar Knauff got on the end of Nathaniel Brown's pass, fended off Alejandro Balde, and put the ball past Joan Garcia.
Marcus Rashford, who came on as a substitute at halftime, had a quick impact, crossing from the left for Kounde to head in at the 50th minute.
The France defender scored again three minutes later, connecting with Lamine Yamal's pass when he was open six yards out.
This win puts Barcelona, who have won the Champions League five times, at 10 points from six games. With two games left, they're still in the running for a top-eight spot, which would send them straight to the last 16, skipping the playoff round.
Hansi Flick's team plays Slavia Prague on January 21 and finishes their group stage at home against Copenhagen a week later.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who are seventh in the German Bundesliga, are in danger of being knocked out of European competition with only four points from their first six games.
This was Barcelona's fourth game at the Nou Camp since it reopened last month after renovations.
The last Champions League match at the stadium was in October 2022, when they lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich. In February 2023, they played in the Europa League.
The Nou Camp started its £1.1 billion renovation in June 2023 to modernise the stadium and increase its capacity to 105,000, which would make it one of the biggest in the world.
After playing most of the last two seasons at the Estadi Olimpic, which hosted the 1992 Olympics, the Nou Camp reopened with a reduced capacity of 45,401. Work is still being done on the top tier and the roof.
Flick's team has now won all four of their matches back at their home ground.
Frankfurt, who have struggled in their league and lost 6-0 to RB Leipzig on Saturday, scored first and had chances to score a second. However, Ellyes Skhiri and Fares Chaibi both shot over the bar.
Kounde's two goals in four minutes turned the game around for Barcelona, who had lost 3-0 to Chelsea in their previous Champions League match.
The only bad news for Barcelona was a second-half yellow card for Yamal after a foul on Brown. This means he'll miss the trip to Prague.
THE CAMP NOU PLAN: BARCELONA PREFERS A SECOND LOAN FOR MARCUS RASHFORD
Barcelona aims for a new Marcus Rashford loan, but Manchester United demands a permanent $35 million deal this summer.
Barcelona is reportedly aiming to arrange a new loan deal to keep Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford at Camp Nou beyond this season. Rashford joined Barcelona last summer on a deal that includes an option to buy him permanently for about $35 million (£26 million). His performances of 10 goals and 13 assists in 38 games have impressed, and interest in continuing the partnership seems strong. However, club president Joan Laporta has recently indicated that a permanent deal is unlikely this summer.
According to the Daily Mail, this reluctance isn’t due to waning interest in Rashford but more about Barcelona wanting to delay paying the full transfer fee at the end of the current campaign.
Looking at United’s side, last summer, they felt pushed into a corner. Rashford was keen on moving to Barcelona, and United had already labelled his wages as unsustainable. This left them with minimal leverage and forced them to accept a purchase clause well below what Rashford’s market value might actually be. Since his rise in Catalonia, the $35 million price tag arguably represents a bargain.
Reports have since suggested that United won’t open further talks with Barcelona this year without the purchase clause being triggered. They’ve warned that if Barcelona doesn’t act, Rashford could be sold elsewhere to the highest bidder.
That said, the latest information indicates United might accept another loan, provided it includes an obligatory purchase clause. This would allow United to count on the transfer fee as part of their next season’s budget, similar to if the option were exercised now.
A key difference would be the timing of the payments. United hopes for a full payment this summer, but Barcelona seems keen to push this back. A potential new loan deal might involve a partial payment at the season’s end, with the rest due in 2027.
This approach would still frustrate United. They know Rashford could fetch more elsewhere, but his preference to stay at Barcelona narrows their options. His weekly wages, approximately $435,000 (£325,000), add pressure to move him on quickly. If Barcelona is the only club he’ll join, United may find themselves forced to accept similar terms as last summer.
On the broader front, United’s transfer plans add urgency. The club needs to reshape the squad, especially in central midfield, where Casemiro’s departure has left a significant gap. Some reports suggest United might spend up to $270 million (£200 million) just in that area, alongside other potential signings. So raising funds from player sales is crucial.
While one might think United would push for a full, permanent sale now to maximise income, modern transfers often involve flexible payment structures. Payment plans can stretch over several years, and clubs can record the fee as income upfront when a purchase obligation exists, even if the full sum isn’t received immediately. This means United could record the $35 million from Rashford’s transfer this summer even if Barcelona pays in instalments.
That said, United will still want some immediate cash to kick-start their transfer activity. Barcelona would likely need to front a substantial portion of the fee this summer to persuade United to finalise a deal. But the pressure to have all $35 million on hand right now isn’t as great as it may seem.
DISCOVER JOAN LAPORTA’S BOLD FIVE YEAR PLAN TO RESTORE BARCELONA’S GLOBAL DOMINANCE
Joan Laporta secures a fourth term as Barcelona president, promising a golden era ahead of the UCL clash with Newcastle.
The election fight had wrapped up, with Victor Font outmanoeuvred without much resistance. But for Joan Laporta, the real challenge is just getting started reviving Barcelona’s position atop European football.
This Wednesday, Newcastle comes to Camp Nou for the Champions League round of 16, the tie delicately balanced after a 1-1 draw in England last week. Eddie Howe’s side enters as underdogs but has shown they can pose a real threat, leaving Laporta’s hopes hanging in the air.
Laporta described the last five years as pulling Barcelona back from the brink, taking over a club drowning in debt. Now, the goal is to build on that shaky foundation and push the team beyond last season’s semi-final finish, the first in six years. If Barca can go one step further and win in Budapest, Laporta might not even be officially in charge yet.
His new term, actually his fourth overall and second consecutive, officially begins in July. Until then, interim president Rafa Yuste manages the day-to-day. Laporta expressed support, saying if Yuste lifts the Champions League trophy, it’ll be "wonderful".
Behind the scenes, though, it’s clear 63-year-old Laporta remains the driving force. On election day, he mingled with club legends and key figures past and present, including Sergio Busquets, who helped bring home three Champions League titles.
That last Barca European triumph dates back over ten years to the Messi era, when the club seemed untouchable. Letting Messi go just months after Laporta returned in 2021 was a tough blow, a rare blemish on his record. Delays returning to a partially renovated Camp Nou and registration missteps over Dani Olmo added to a rocky start.
Many worried when Laporta pulled the "palancas", those financial tools to raise cash by selling future TV rights and assets, fearing it might cripple the club long-term. Yet, at least for now, that high-risk move has helped. Laporta and sporting director Deco backed signings like Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Kounde – moves aimed at restoring Barca’s elite status – and it seems to be paying off.
Their boldest call was hiring Hansi Flick, a bet on his style that has brought excitement and success. Barca clinched a domestic treble last season and reached the Champions League semi-finals, though it fell short against Inter Milan. Defensive frailties remain a concern, especially with Newcastle looking to exploit Barca’s high defensive line.
Still, on the bright side, Barca boasts young talents like winger Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri Gonzalez, arguably two of the best in the world at their positions.
After his win, Laporta confidently declared the coming five years would be “the best years of our lives", a bold statement considering he steered the club through Ronaldinho’s era, Messi’s rise, and Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2009.
With Camp Nou reopening to nearly 63,000 fans and plans to expand to 105,000, Laporta believes the club’s financial health has improved enough to compete with wealthy Gulf-backed teams like Newcastle, now owned by Saudi interests.
“No one can stop us,” Laporta said, energised by victory. But given Barca’s mixed European fortunes over the last decade, doubts linger about whether they can overcome internal challenges.
Newcastle’s visit offers a chance to kick off Laporta’s new chapter with a statement win and push further into the Champions League quarter-finals. It’s an opportunity Barca can’t afford to miss.
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