The Europa League quarter-final stage kicked off tonight (Thursday) with four games to go. The favorite Barcelona took advantage of the 1-1 loss in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham and Lyon split 1-1 and Braga achieved a very expensive 0-1 at home over the Rangers. In the early game, Leipzig and Atalanta parted ways in Germany as well, 1-1.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Barcelona 1: 1
Barcelona is the favorite to win the Europa League, but tonight in Germany they showed an ability that will not be enough for them in the decisive stages. Although she has survived a loss and has been counting 14 games since she last surrendered, she came back from behind and was unable to complete a makeover even against an opponent with a numerical disadvantage following a red card.
Xavi left Frankie de Jong and Osman Dembele on the bench and opened with Gabi and Adama Traore, but except for a big miss by Fran Torres in the opening, the hosts were better and also already celebrated a penalty that was ruled in their favor, but was canceled on the recommendation of screen judges. In the end it was Ansgar Knaoff who in the 48th minute fired a fantastic ball into the net of Ter Stegen, but De Jong and Dembele came off the bench and brought the change and also the equalizer from the feet of Fran Torres (66). The Brazilian Tota also left the host with 10 players for the last 12 minutes, but a decision was not recorded until the end. Barcelona, by the way, hope that Gerard Pique does not suffer a serious injury after being forced to drop the grass sale already after 23 minutes.
Game move
Minute 2: Fran Torres swung his leg and squeezed an incredible save from Kevin Trapp who took the ball out of the net.
Minute 6: A huge miss by Eintracht. Jibril Sue made a perfect move and got a ball wide from Lindstrom, remained free in the center of the extension, kicked a touch and instead of shaking Ter Stegen’s net saw how the ball flew out.
17th minute: Torres found Obmiang in good delivery, the striker tried to subdue Trapp from a difficult angle and met the outside net.
24th minute: Gerard Pique is injured and is replaced by Kalmon Langela
39th minute: Kostic passed a ball wide, Ter Stegen failed to catch and Busquets slipped in an attempt to save a safe goal from Rafael Bora, the referee pointed to the white spot claiming that the striker failed, but returned after watching the event on the recommendation of the referees. Before contact was made between them.
48 minutes, 0: 1 to Eintracht Frankfurt: What a spectacular goal by Knauf. A corner kick from the right was deflected, reached the midfielder who was waiting outside the box, stopped the ball and fired a huge ball that did not leave Ter Stegen a chance.
50th minute: Lindstrom almost stunned Barcelona and doubled the advantage, but the ball that kicked from an extension went inches above the crossbar.
62 min: Frankie de Jong gets off the bench and replaces Gabby, Dembele comes in at the expense of Traore.
66 minutes, Barcelona back to 1: 1: A beautiful gate of the Catalans. Dembele sent a message to De Jong, who completed a beautiful double-pass with Torres and the latter was also the one who found himself at a good angle and kicked to the net.
78 minutes, Frankfurt is left with 10 players: The Brazilian Tota tripped Pedry, picked up a second yellow card and came out selling the grass.
multi. Leipzig – Atlanta 1: 1
After four wins from four Europa League knockout games, Atlanta has been stopped. On the other hand a draw in Germany is a flattering result that leaves the ball at the feet of the Narazuri. Luis Muriel scored a beautiful goal in the 17th minute and Atalanta managed to hold the lead until the 58th minute which was especially busy – Andre Silva missed a penalty, the game continued and after about a minute Willy Urban pushed close after a bad cover by Davide Zapacosta.
West Ham – Lyon 1: 1
After a dramatic immigration at the expense of the “factory queen” of Sevilla, West Ham failed to beat Lyon. The Hammers got tangled up three minutes into extra time of the first half, after defender Arun Kresswell stopped Musa Dembele who was on his safe way to goal and was sent off as he was the last player and prevented a certain rift situation. Despite the numerical disadvantage, who if not Jared Bowen put her in the lead in the 52nd minute, but Tangi Andumbela, the midfielder on loan from Tottenham, felt at home in London, equalized in the 66th minute and set up the game.
Braga – Rangers 0: 1
Disappointed with the loss at Old Firm, Rangers have not been able to recover in Portugal either and they will try to turn the bowl upside down next week in Glasgow. In 2019/20 Rangers overtook Raga in the last 32 rounds of the factory with two wins, but this time it was But Ruiz who in the 40th minute scored the only goal of the game and awarded the advance towards the return to the Portuguese.