Barcelona narrowly avoided a shock defeat in Belgium, salvaging a 3-3 UEFA Champions League (UCL) draw against Club Brugge and ending their four-match winning streak away from home in the competition.

The hosts struck early, with Carlos Forbs exploiting Barcelona’s high defensive line to set up Nicolo Tresoldi for a simple tap-in just six minutes in, sending shockwaves through the visitors. Barcelona responded immediately, with Ferran Torres rifling a right-footed effort past Nordin Jackers just two minutes later to restore parity.

The equaliser seemed to settle Barça, and their constant pressure soon produced further chances. Yet Club Brugge capitalised on a Barcelona corner and two long balls forward, allowing Forbs to break free and curl a left-footed shot past Wojciech Szczęsny for a second goal, putting the home side ahead once more.

Barcelona pressed for an equaliser, with Jules Kounde’s spectacular strike rattling the bar and Marcus Rashford stretching Jackers with another probing effort. Club Brugge, however, remained composed, and the half ended with a glaring missed opportunity from Torres.

The second half started at pace, with Joaquin Seys denied by Szczęsny before Lamine Yamal squandered a golden chance by firing straight at the keeper. Eric Garcia then tested the woodwork with a stunning 30-yard strike, but Yamal soon made amends, slicing through the Brugge defence to finish with the outside of his left foot and level the score.

Forbs almost restored the lead for Brugge moments later, but Barcelona’s defence held firm, with VAR denying a potential penalty for the hosts. In the 77th minute, Christos Tzolis inadvertently turned Yamal’s cross into his own net, giving Barcelona a 3-2 lead.

Drama continued late on, as Romeo Vermant appeared to score for Brugge in stoppage time, only for VAR to rule out the goal for a foul on Szczęsny.

The draw extends Club Brugge’s five-match home unbeaten run in the UCL and stops Barcelona from winning their opening two away fixtures for the first time since 2020/21.