UEFA Europa League: Ferran Torres salvages draw for Barcelona against Eintracht Frankfurt in QF first-leg

Barcelona's Ferran Torres (left) celebrates after scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg. (Photo: Reuters)

Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarterfinal first leg on Thursday (April 7). Torres cancelled out Ansgar Knauff’s first-half opener in a lively clash at the Waldstadion, which the hosts finished with 10 men having put the competition favourites on the back foot.

In the other last eight ties, West Ham United battled to a 1-1 home draw versus Olympique Lyonnais despite having Aaron Creswell sent off on the stroke of halftime. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a Jerome Boateng blunder, only for Tanguy Ndombele to level for the visitors after 66 minutes, tapping in from close range after Tete`s strike was parried into his path by Alphonse Areola.

Rangers lost 1-0 at Braga, with the Portuguese side being rewarded for their domination five minutes before the break when Abel Ruiz found the net with a powerful shot. In the early game, Atalanta and RB Leipzig drew 1-1 at the Red Bull Arena.

4 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games pic.twitter.com/HA8bouYvu1

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 7, 2022

Luis Muriel put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes with a fine curled shot, with both sides hitting the woodwork in the opening half. Leipzig, who missed a penalty through Andre Silva just before the hour mark, levelled in the 59th when Davide Zappacosta deflected Angelino`s cross into his own net.

Early pressure

In Frankfurt, the hosts soaked up the pressure early on, hoping to hit Barca on the break, but were in danger after three minutes when Kevin Trapp tipped Torres’s shot over the bar. Trapp was at it again to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the game was to swing the German side’s way.

Sergio Busquets appeared to bring down Rafael Santos Borre in the area before the break but referee Srdjan Jovanovic overturned his initial penalty call out after a VAR review. Eintracht kept going, though, and were rewarded three minutes into the second half when Knauff found the back of the net with a floating shot from outside the box after a poor clearance by the Barca defence.

Oliver Glasner’s team continued to play with a low block and were punished in the 66th minute as Torres beat Trapp with a low shot after a one-two with Frenkie De Jong, who had just come on. Eintracht’s hopes of a late winner were dashed in the 78th when Tuta got a second yellow card for a rough challenge on Pedri Gonzalez, leaving his team to finish the game a man short.