It’s a hammer blow for us: Xavi Hernandez

Xavi Hernandez treats tie against Eintracht Frankfurt like a final after visitors stun Barcelona to reach Europa League semis; Filip Kostic scores brace in 3-2 win over Catalans at Camp Nou

Barcelona were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday as Eintracht Frankfurt pulled off a shock 3-2 victory at Camp Nou to progress to the semi-finals. 

After the first leg finished 1-1 in Germany last week, Barca were strong favourites to win at home against a side sitting ninth in the Bundesliga. But Frankfurt, inspired by an incredible travelling support of around 20,000 fans, outplayed the Catalans, Filip Kostic scoring twice, the first an early penalty, either side of a stunning long-range strike by Rafael Santos Borre.

Xavi Hernandez

Sergio Busquets pulled one back for Barcelona in the 91st minute and then Memphis Depay scored a penalty in the 11th minute of injury time as the hosts attempted a late comeback. But it was too little, too late as Frankfurt sealed a momentous 4-3 aggregate win. They will face West Ham in the last four after the Premier League side cruised past Lyon. “It’s a hammer blow for us. They deserved to go through,” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who was also unhappy at the number of away fans inside the stadium. “Obviously it didn’t help us,” Xavi added. 

“It was like a final, the fans evenly divided. The club is checking what happened but it was an error on our part. We’ll go there and beat them,” Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Kroesche had said on Wednesday but few believed it possible, not least because of Barcelona’s brilliant recent run of form under Xavi. They were undefeated since December in all competitions and have surged up to second in La Liga after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu less than a month ago. 

Filip Kostic

While that run means Barca should no longer need the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League next season, this was a great chance for Xavi to add a trophy to what has been an impressive first few months as coach. Instead, Frankfurt go through to the last four and the German club will now be eyeing a first European triumph since they won the UEFA Cup in 1980.

West Ham outclass Lyon

Meanwhile, West Ham United and Rangers joined RB Leipzig in qualifying for the last four. Yet Eintracht maintained their record of not having lost to Spanish opposition since the 1960 European Cup final against Real Madrid, and they will face West Ham in the semi-finals. The English side are through to their first European semi-final since losing the 1976 Cup Winners’ Cup final to Anderlecht after they outclassed Lyon in France, winning 3-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate. The Hammers took the lead in the 38th minute of the return when Craig Dawson headed in a Pablo Fornals corner. Captain Declan Rice slotted in their second just before the break, his sidefoot effort from the edge of the area beating Lyon goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck with the aid of a deflection. The outcome was put beyond doubt when West Ham scored again three minutes after the restart as Fornals sent Jarrod Bowen away to make it 3-0.

Rangers through

There was drama in Glasgow as Rangers were taken to extra time by Braga before winning 3-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate as the Portuguese side finished the game with nine men. James Tavernier gave Rangers a second-minute lead to level the tie on aggregate, and they had another goal disallowed and then hit the woodwork before winning a penalty just before the interval. 
Vitor Tormena was sent off for a foul on Kemar Roofe, and Tavernier netted from the spot. David Carmo’s 83rd-minute header took the tie to extra time, but Roofe’s 101st-minute finish put Rangers back in front on aggregate and Braga then had Iuri Medeiros dismissed. Rangers will now face Leipzig in their first European semi-final since reaching the 2008 UEFA Cup final. 
French international Christopher Nkunku scored both goals as Leipzig beat Atalanta 2-0 in Italy to win their last-eight tie 3-1 on aggregate. Nkunku opened the scoring in the 18th minute in Bergamo and then added a late penalty, his 30th goal of the season in all competitions. 

Conference League: Leicester set up semis clash v Roma

Leicester battled back to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 on Thursday in the Europa Conference League to reach a European semi-final for the first time in their history, where they will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma. 

After a goalless draw in the first leg in England last week, PSV took the lead in the quarter-final tie through Eran Zahavi. But late goals from James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira sent Brendan Rodgers’ EPL side through.

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