The French centre-back's emphatic goal kept the Catalan club alive in the Spanish cup after a shaky start in Salamanca
Unionistas probably offered Jules Kounde a bit too much space when he strolled into the final third, with 20 minutes remaining in their Copa del Rey tie with Barcelona. But they couldn't have expected what happened next.
The French defender, with just two Barcelona goals to his name heading into the contest, struck the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards out, completing a comeback and hiding what was yet another disappointing performance from Xavi's side. In the end, the scoreline, 3-1, looked comfortable enough. But the reality was far more difficult.
Unionistas scored the opening goal, and took it wonderfully, a sweeping move down the left complemented by an emphatic volley from Alvaro Gomez on the right.
Barca equalised on the stroke of half time, Ferran Torres capitalising on a defensive breakdown with a calm finish after running through on goal. The crucial goal was of little surprise – although the manner in which it arrived certainly wasn't in the script.
Kounde grabbed it, whacking the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards out after being allowed to saunter into the Unionistas half. Another defender bagged the third, Alejandro Balde scampering down the left wing before pinging his shot in off the woodwork from an acute angle.
Once again, Xavi has reason for complaint about the calibre of performance. But in these midweek games, results matter. And Barca are alive in a competition they will feel they can win.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Campo de Futbol Reina Sofia…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Inaki Pena (7/10):
Couldn't do anything about Gomez's emphatic strike. Proved himself with a terrific save after. Provided a couple of smart clearances in the second half.
Sergi Roberto (6/10):
Didn't cover space particularly well, and wasn't always comfortable on the ball. Managed the whole 90 minutes, though.
Jules Kounde (8/10):
A good all round performance. Tidy defensively, scored a banger to win it. Turned out an unlikely hero.
Andreas Christensen (6/10):
Struggled to deal with the physicality of Unionistas's attackers. Removed at half time with discomfort.
Alejandro Balde (8/10):
Nowhere to be found on the Unionistas opener, but was much better going forward. Scampered forward with regularity and deserved his goal, in the end.
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Oriol Romeu (5/10):
A puzzling addition in general, and didn't cover himself in glory here. Slow in transition, and rather loose on the ball.
Frenkie de Jong (8/10):
Orchestrated play with his usual class. Found spaces well, progressed the ball. Effective playing slightly higher up the pitch than usual. He's arguably been Barca's best player this season.
Fermin Lopez (4/10):
A bit of a nightmare throughout. Tried to do too much with the ball, and his performance was defined by ill-advised attempts on goal and poor touches.
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Ferran Torres (7/10):
Scored Barca's equaliser and was generally threatening throughout. Needs to bring this calibre of performance in the bigger games.
Marc Guiu (5/10):
Preferred to Vitor Roque — a surprise choice. Should have scored from close range in the first half. Otherwise struggled to get involved. Hardly a thrilling showing.
Joao Felix (6/10):
A selection that showed exactly where he stands in this squad. Struggled for long stretches, but grabbed himself an assist. Removed after an hour.
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Pau Cubarsi (6/10):
A surprise introduction for the 16-year-old. A solid debut, even if he made a mistake or two.
Robert Lewandowski (5/10):
Never really involved. His biggest contribution was a narrow miss as he tried to chip the keeper from 40 yards.
Pedri (7/10):
Silky in possession. Played a few lovely passes, created angles, and broke away from possession. Just needs to stay fit.
Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):
See above. Him and Pedri can be wonderful to watch.
Vitor Roque (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Xavi (7/10):
Fielded a weakened lineup and Barca were never really convincing. Unionistas' goal was much deserved. However, he will take heart from the fight from that point on. There are still questions, but Xavi stays alive — for now.
