SGE Falls 1-2 to Barcelona Despite Halftime Lead
The match between SGE and FC Barcelona ended unfavorably for the German team, losing 1-2. Despite the halftime lead, Eintracht Frankfurt could not maintain their advantage in the Champions League encounter.
Match Overview
This sixth round of the Champions League showcased a competitive clash. SGE, managed by Dino Toppmöller, made four changes to their starting lineup. Ansgar Knauff, Hugo Larsson, Mario Götze, and Ellyes Skhiri replaced Mishy Batshuayi, Nnamdi Collins, Mo Dahoud, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya.
First Half Highlights
- The match started with Barcelona controlling the ball.
- Barcelona’s Raphinha had a goal disallowed due to offside in the 10th minute.
- Michael Zetterer, SGE’s goalkeeper, made a crucial save against Gerard Martin’s shot in the 14th minute.
- SGE took the lead in the 21st minute when Knauff capitalized on a chance created by Nathaniel Brown.
- Barcelona had limited scoring opportunities, with the defense, led by Robin Koch, holding strong.
- Just before halftime, Knauff set up Ellyes Skhiri, but he missed the target.
Second Half Shift
The second half began with Marcus Rashford replacing Fermín López, bringing fresh energy to Barcelona. Despite a strong start by SGE, the momentum quickly shifted.
- In the 48th minute, Koundé equalized for Barcelona with a header.
- Just two minutes later, Koundé scored again, putting Barcelona ahead 2-1.
Final Minutes
SGE made attempts to equalize but struggled to find clear chances. Elye Wahi and Mo Dahoud were substituted in the 68th minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Barça’s pressure continued, and Zetterer made another save against Ferran Torres.
In the closing minutes, Jessic Ngankam made his Champions League debut, but time ran out for SGE to recover.
This match leaves SGE at four points in the tournament standings. Future fixtures include matches in Agdam and against Tottenham. In the Bundesliga, SGE’s next game is against FC Augsburg, scheduled for Saturday at 15:30.
