A second-half equalizer by Ferran Torres on Thursday rescued Barcelona as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.
Frankfurt, who had Brazilian defender Tuta sent off for a second booking late on, took the lead when Ansgar Knauff hit the top corner with a curling long-range shot just after halftime.
Barcelona had a let off when referee Srdjan Jovanovic reversed his decision to award a penalty when captain Sergio Busquets brought down Rafael Borre and they fought back when Torres tapped in after combining with Frenkie de Jong in the 66th minute.
Photo: AP
“To go behind, but end up drawing might end up a very valuable result for the second leg,” Torres said. “Frankfurt were tough — they made things difficult. The main thing was that we were patient and the reward was that we got a good equalizer.”
Torres’ equalizer makes them favorites for the return leg at the Camp Nou on Thursday next week.
“We put in a superb performance and didn’t allow them much in the entire 90 minutes,” Frankfurt scorer Knauff said. “It’s almost a bit annoying that we didn’t hold on for the win, but anything is possible for the second leg.”
A sell-out home crowd of 48,000 created a highly-charged atmosphere. It inspired Frankfurt to create 18 shots on goal to Barcelona’s seven.
There was a huge roar from the Frankfurt crowd when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Busquets brought down Borre on 38 minutes as the Colombia striker tried to pounce on a loose ball.
The penalty decision was reversed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, but the hosts went ahead soon after halftime.
Barcelona cleared a corner only as far as Knauff, who unleashed a dipping half-volley just out of reach of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona equalized when substitutes Ousmane Dembele and De Jong combined before the latter teed-up Torres to fire home.
Frankfurt were reduced to 10 men for the final 12 minutes when Tuta picked up a second booking for a mistimed challenge on Pedri.
“It was difficult to get a grip on the game, they defended well and didn’t give us much space,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said. “We were better in the second half, they attacked us on the counter and they had their chance.We will have our fans behind us for the return to hopefully put us in the semi-finals.”
Elsewhere, Jarrod Bowen scored as West Ham United battled to a 1-1 draw at home to Olympique Lyonnais after Aaron Cresswell was sent off just before halftime for a foul on Moussa Dembele.
West Ham, playing in a European quarter-final for the first time in 41 years, went ahead in the 52nd minute when Bowen pounced on an error by Jerome Boateng.
Tanguy Ndombele, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, leveled for Lyon 14 minutes later.
“I thought the red card was cheap, if I’m really honest,” Bowen told BT Sport.
In Portugal, Abel Ruiz hit a fine goal in the 40th minute as SC Braga defeated Rangers 1-0.
Braga were unfortunate not to have won by more after Ricardo Horta hit the post, while the same player had a 25th-minute goal chalked off by VAR for a foul on Ryan Jack in the buildup.
“We should have scored more than one goal in the first half,” Ruiz said. “Rangers defend very well. It will be a difficult match in Scotland and 1-0 is not a great advantage, but we will go there to win.”
An own-goal by Davide Zappacosta just before the hour mark allowed RB Leipzig to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Atalanta BC.
Luis Muriel gave the Italian side a 17th-minute lead with a powerful drive that beat goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Both sides hit the woodwork before Leipzig’s Andre Silva missed a penalty after Christopher Nkunku had been brought down in the penalty area.
Moments later, the hosts got on the score sheet when, under pressure from Willi Orban, the unfortunate Zappacosta managed to push the ball past his own goalkeeper.
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