Barcelona is eliminated from the Europa League

This Thursday the second leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals was held where Barcelona received Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou and surprisingly ended up losing to the German team.

In the first leg they had achieved a 1-1 draw and on this occasion those led by Oliver Glasner stormed the culé house with a final score of 2-3 and qualified for the semi-finals.

The game began with chances for both teams trying to disturb the rival goals, however, at minute 3, Eric García hugs Lindstrom and knocks him down in the area. The referee consults the VAR, shows a yellow card to the central defender and points out the maximum penalty. Kostic was in charge of collecting from the eleven steps and scored the 0-1 at minute 5.

Those led by Xavi had a difficult time with this goal conceded at the beginning of the match, but at minute 9, Barcelona responded with a play that started from Dembelé on the right wing and, cutting towards the goal, sent a center so that Aubameyang arrives, but the header goes over the crossbar.

At minute 18, the home team would try again and this time through Jordi Alba who charged a free kick on the left of the area and the ball was rebounded by Araujo, who took a shot that the goalkeeper deflected for a corner.

At 26 'Frankfurt responds again and this time starting from a pass from Kamada who was in the center of the field and gave it to Kostic who escaped at speed, entering the area from the left sector and took a creeping shot that stops Ter Stegen without complications.

In the same way, at 34' the visitors had another chance and this time through Rafael Santos Borré, who received a pass while on the right wing and dribbled past the defender, managed to get to the front, where he took a shot without much power that the Barcelona goalkeeper stopped without problems.

Two minutes later, Frankfurt would recover a ball in the middle of the field and Borré received the pass, heading to the area, although marked. Faced with defensive pressure, the Colombian striker shoots from mid-distance and places it at the angle of the near post. Great goal and nothing to do for Ter Stegen! 0-2 and the Camp Nou fell silent.

At 39, the German team attacked again, raising a cross into the area from the left wing and the rebound was left to Jakic who took a shot from the edge of the area, but the German goalkeeper calmly stopped.

Also at 45', Knauff receives a ball down the middle of the field and leaves the defender behind. Upon reaching the area, he takes out a powerful shot that goes slightly high above the crossbar. With the sale of two goals they would go to rest.

At the start of the second half, the home side tried to create chances. The first at minute 47, again through Dembelé who was on the right wing and threw a low center to Aubameyang who failed to give him direction.

At 57' the Blaugrana would have another clear chance. Dembelé has the ball again and passes it to Frenkie de Jong who was in the area, but going to the bottom line he takes a cross that caused a mess in the area until it falls to Aubameyang who is left hand in hand with the goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and the latter clears.

A minute later a counter was made for the visitors that falls to Lindstrom who entered alone from the right sector of the area and takes a powerful low shot that Ter Stegen deflects with his foot. At that moment the referee reviews a possible hand in the Frankfurt area, but ends up ruling out the maximum penalty.

Another chance for the Germans at 67. Another ball recovery that falls to Kamada who ends up passing it to Kostic who entered only from the left sector of the area and takes a powerful left foot that crosses it to Ter Stegen and thus converts the partial 0-3. The game seemed doomed.

Kamada also had a chance in the 78th minute, escaping down the left side of the edge of the area and taking a powerful shot that went very close to the far post.

However, Barcelona would try to discount. At 85 'there was a fortuitous play in the area that ended up falling to Busquets who was near the goal line and he sent it to the back of the net, but the action would be reviewed and annulled for offside.

Busquets himself at 90+1' receives a rebound from the edge of the area and hits it with a volley, sending it to the top left corner. 1-3 partial and the blaugranas began to have hopes, since the referee had added 9 minutes.

At 90 + 9 'there was a cross to the area that ended up being a penalty due to a fortuitous play by Evan N'Dicka that ended up being sent off for a double yellow card. The maximum penalty is charged by Memphis Depay, who scores despite the goalkeeper managing to stop it. Final 2-3 and the referee did not give time for more.

With this result, the Blaugrana remain out of the Europa League months before being eliminated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Currently, they are second in LaLiga, 12 points behind Real Madrid, which is the leader. Ronald Araujo, defender of Barcelona expressed after the end of the match that:

“It's a shame to lose this match. Thinking of the result, we did what we had worked for. They came 3 times and scored 3 goals. At this point there are details that can not happen, that's why we do not take the classification. We wanted to win this Europa League. It was important for us, for the young people. We have to raise our heads and keep working."

Other results

For its part, other second leg matches of the quarterfinals were also held this Thursday. Atalanta received Leipzig at the Gewiss Stadium, but ended up losing 0-2 (1-3 on aggregate), both by Nkunku, one at minute 18 and the other at 87' from a penalty. The German team qualifies for the semifinals.

Lyon hosted West Ham at the Groupama Stadium, but this time the English won 0-3 (1-4 on aggregate). The goals were scored by Dawson at 38', Rice at 44' and Bowen at 48'. The English go through to the next round.

The last matchup was between Rangers and Braga at Ibrox Stadium. The locals won 3-1 (3-2 on aggregate), managing to come back from the tie. The goals were scored by Tavernier at minute 2 and at 44' from a penalty, Roofe also scored at 101', since the game went to extra time. Braga's goal was scored by Carmo at 83', causing extra time.

Next Thursday, April 28, the first leg of the semi-finals will take place between West Ham and Frankfurt, while the other will be between Leipzig and Rangers. The return will take place on May 5.