Barca rescues draw in Brugge thriller

Spanish champion Barcelona needed to come from behind three times to earn a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Teenage winger Lamine Yamal was back to his best for Hansi Flick's side to help it earn a point in a gripping clash in Belgium.

Barca's defense was shredded on multiple occasions by the host, as Brugge winger Carlos Forbs struck twice and set one up for striker Nicolo Tresoldi.

Ferran Torres, Yamal and a Christos Tzolis own goal saved Barcelona from what would have been a humiliating defeat, even though it has several players out injured.

"It's a game, I think, we have to win, but we have to do things a lot better," Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar.

"We have to adjust some things, we know that. We're working on it. If you let in three goals, it's difficult to win."

Barcelona's form has been shaky in recent weeks, including a loss to rival Real Madrid in a La Liga Clasico.

The Catalan giant has struggled defensively for much of the season, but Flick said his team would not change its style and high defensive line.

"We can speak about changing everything, but I am not a coach to change this," said Flick. "We want to play (how) our DNA is; we are Barca."

The host took an early lead at Jan Breydel Stadium through Tresoldi, who was set up by the electric Forbs.

With Forbs rampaging in behind Barcelona's defense, Brugge set an early blueprint for how it could consistently hurt the Catalans.

Flick's side hit back quickly through Torres, who produced a clever finish after being played in by Fermin Lopez.

Midfielder Lopez struck the woodwork, before Forbs netted Brugge's second in a relentless battle between two sides determined to attack.

Key to Barca's efforts was its teenage phenom. "I'm trying to get back to working and playing at (my best) level. That's how I feel best and enjoy myself most," Yamal told Movistar.

Brugge thought it had won it in stoppage time, when veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny tried to turn in his area, but lost the ball as Romeo Vermant slid in on him.

Vermant rolled the ball into the empty net, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, with the Belgian forward ruled to have fouled the relieved Barca keeper.

"They created a lot of danger, with just a couple of passes they got into the area, it's obviously something we have to improve," said Barca defender Eric Garcia.

AFP