Friday. 29.03.2024
EUROPA LEAGUE

Eintracht beat Barcelona in Camp Nou packed with German fans

A reported 30,000 fans travelled from Germany for the quarter-final second leg and they had an unforgettable experience in the Camp Nou as their heroes humbled once mighty Barca

German players and fans celebrated victory after the Europa League quarter-final, match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.
German fans celebrated hard their victory after the Europa League quarter-final match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.

A Filip Kostic double helped Eintracht Frankfurt win 3-2 at Barcelona on Thursday and continue their astonishing run in the Europa League to the semi-finals.

A reported 30,000 fans travelled from Germany for the quarter-final second leg and they had an unforgettable experience in the Camp Nou as their heroes humbled once mighty Barca.

Kostic's penalty set the tone in just four minutes, after Eric Garcia fouled Jesper Lindström, and a rocket from Rafael Borre doubled the lead before the break.

"Nobody expected this, if you are honest," Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp told RTL. "We needed to take our chances and today we were very efficient.

14 April 2022, Spain, Barcelona: Frankfurt's Filip Kostic (L) scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.
Frankfurt's Filip Kostic (L) scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.

"We are in the semis now and we want to get as far as possible. We showed we don't have to hide from anybody, but no doubt, now we want to make the final."

Barcelona rallied at the start of the second period but Trapp saved from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kostic drilled into the bottom corner to settle the tie 4-3 on aggregate in the 67th minute.

Sergio Busquets netted to give Barcelona hope in injury-time but Luuk de Jong's penalty, with the last action of the game, came too late to save them. Evan Ndicka was sent off in conceding the spot-kick.

14 April 2022, Spain, Barcelona: Eintracht fans march towards the hosting venue before the start of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa.
Eintracht fans march towards the Camp Nou before the start of the match. Photo: Matthias Oesterle/dpa.

"It's a big disappointment of course but that's football," Barcelona coach Xavi said. "They were just better in the first half.

"We played a bit better in the second but unfortunately our goals were very late."

Frankfurt are midtable in the Bundesliga but will meet West Ham in the last four, which has the first legs on April 28, after the Londoners also won 3-0 away to Lyon following their own 1-1 first leg draw.

Craig Dawson, Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen got the goals for David Moyes' side who are in their first Europen semi-final since 1976.

14 April 2022, Spain, Barcelona: Frankfurt's Jesper Lindstrom (R) and Barcelona's Jordi Alba battle for the ball during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.
Frankfurt's Jesper Lindstrom (R) and Barcelona's Jordi Alba battle for the ball. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.

Leipzig's win at Atalanta

There will be another Bundesliga representative in the semi-finals as RB Leipzig's progressed thanks to Christopher Nkunku's double at Atalanta.

Leipzig were held 1-1 at home last week but a controlled performance brought a deserved victory in Bergamo and a semi-final tie against Rangers, who beat nine-man Braga 3-2 on aggregate after extra-time.

14 April 2022, Spain, Barcelona: Frankfurt players celebrate their victory after the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.
Frankfurt players celebrate their victory after the match at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa.

Nkunku was the hero once more by tapping in from Konrad Laimer's cut back in the 19th minute and his late penalty, which he won himself from goalkeeper Juan Musso three minutes from time, took him to 30 goals for the season.

"We’re working hard and want to try and win the trophy," Nkunku told Canal+.

Leipzig are also in the semi-finals of the German Cup next week as they continue their fine form under coach Domenico Tedesco, who has transformed their season since being appointed in December.

14 April 2022, Spain, Barcelona: Eintracht fans march towards the hosting venue before the start of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Matthias Oesterle/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa.
Eintracht fans march towards the Camp Nou before the start of the match. Photo: Matthias Oesterle/dpa.

"It’s a fantastic night, it’s not easy to win here," Tedesco told UEFA.com. "There were no secrets to win, we defended well and unlike the first leg we did well to get past their pressing."

Rangers dominated Braga from start to finish with full back James Tavernier opening the scoring in just two minutes to cancel Braga's first leg lead.

He then stroked home from the penalty spot before the break after Vítor Tormena was sent off but Rangers, who hit the woodwork three times in all and had three goals disallowed, conceded a late equalizer to David Carmo.

Kemar Roofe finally slammed in the winning goal for Rangers in the first added period and Braga's hopes ended when Iuri Medeiros was booked for a tackle and immediately given a second yellow card for complaining about it.

Eintracht beat Barcelona in Camp Nou packed with German fans