Barcelona, despite finishing at the top of their Champions League group, suffered a surprising defeat on matchday six against Antwerp in Belgium. The unexpected turn of events unfolded in a chaotic few minutes of stoppage time.
In a thrilling encounter, 17-year-old Barcelona substitute Marc Guiu secured a late equalizer for Xavi’s team, leveling the score after being twice behind against the team they previously defeated 5-0 on matchday one. However, it was 17-year-old Antwerp forward George Ilenikhena who emerged as the hero, clinching a historic victory with an even later goal.
The opening moments saw Antwerp’s 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren giving his side an early lead, taking advantage of Barcelona’s defensive lapse. Ferran Torres managed to equalize for Barcelona in the first half, but Vincent Janssen, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker, swiftly scored a second for Antwerp to regain the lead after halftime.
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The game’s dynamics saw Barcelona dominating possession, but Antwerp held strong defensively, frustrating the visiting giants. Ferran Torres’ equalizer came as Barcelona’s first attempt, a counter-attack orchestrated by Lamine Yamal’s precise pass.
Early in the second half, Sergi Roberto received a straight red card, although VAR ultimately allowed him to stay on the pitch. Despite being at full strength, Barcelona fell behind again due to an error, with Oriol Romeu losing possession near his own box, leading to Janssen’s second goal.
In a final attempt to salvage the match, Barcelona introduced substitutes, and Marc Guiu seemed to have secured a draw with a late header from Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick. However, Antwerp swiftly turned the tables, as Ilenikhena capitalized on a defensive mix-up to score the decisive goal and secure a memorable victory.