Europa league: Barcelona knocked out by Frankfurt as WestHam, Rangers and Leipzig advance to semis
Frankfurt are into the semifinals after stunning Barcelona at home at the Camp Nou, surging into a three-goal lead and just about staving off a late comeback from the Catalan giants.
The visitors got off to a dream start with Filip Kostić emphatically converting a fourth-minute spot kick, after Eric García had impeded Jesper Lindstrøm.
Barcelona almost levelled shortly after, but Kevin Trapp was equal to Ronald Araújo’s snap-shot – and Frankfurt promptly regained control.
Indeed, the visitors doubled their lead in emphatic fashion, Rafael Borré sending a thumping right-footed effort into the roof of the net, after their press had disrupted the Barça midfield.
The hosts were the better side after the restart, with Trapp spreading himself well to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from close range. But Kostić had other ideas and, with just over 20 minutes left, the Serbia winger rifled in a crisp strike for the Bundesliga side’s third.
The Blaugrana pressed in their efforts to spark an unlikely comeback, and were almost rewarded in added time via Sergio Busquets’ fierce strike and substitute Memphis Depay’s penalty, with Evan N’Dicka dismissed for a second bookable offence.
It was too little, too late, as Oliver Glasner’s men held on to record a famous victory.
Three goals in the space of 11 minutes either side of half-time propelled West Ham into their first semi-final in a major UEFA competition in 46 years.
Lyon started superbly and went close when Karl Toko Ekambi wriggled through before firing a low shot which beat Alphonse Areola but not the post.
Craig Dawson then made a fine block to thwart Houssem Aouar as the visitors defended well against some high-quality home attacking play.
And they reaped their rewards before half-time when Dawson headed in Pablo Fornals’ near-post corner, before Declan Rice’s shot from 20 metres doubled the lead, albeit aided by a slight deflection.
Lyon made two changes at the break, but any hopes of a comeback were killed off within three minutes when Jarrod Bowen collected Fornals’ pass and fired in the third.
Scottish giants Rangers sealed their ticket to the semi-finals, but they required extra time to do it, Kemar Roofe finally seeing off a Braga side who finished a tense tie with nine men.
Rangers had struggled to create a chance of note in the first leg, and the hosts almost instantly made amends at Ibrox. Borna Barišić swung in the first of several dangerous crosses he would deliver during a dominant first half for his side, culminating in James Tavernier steering a second-minute finish beyond goalkeeper Matheus from an acute angle at the far post after Joe Aribo had nodded the ball on.
In-form striker Kemar Roofe almost doubled Rangers’ lead 30 minutes later, hitting the crossbar after Aribo again flicked a centre beyond the bewildered Braga back line. It was Tavernier, though, who scored the second, emphatically converting a penalty after Vitor Tormena was dismissed for bringing down Roofe inside the penalty area a minute before the break.
Braga rallied despite their depleted ranks, retaining a threat in transition while absorbing considerable pressure as John Lundstram, Aaron Ramsey and Aribo all went close. Their reward for their resilience came seven minutes from time, David Carmo expertly heading Iuri Medeiros’s searching corner beyond Allan McGregor to level the tie and subdue the boisterous home fans.
A thrilling period of extra time ensued. Roofe raced in to convert Aribo’s hopeful cross after he had sped to the byline, then Iuri Medeiros was sent off, forcing Braga to push for another goal with a two-man disadvantage. Rangers held on, setting up a semi-final against Leipzig and becoming the first Scottish club to reach the semi-finals in the Europa League era.
Christopher Nkunku hogged the headlines again as his two goals ensured Leipzig eliminated Atalanta 3-1 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie.
The home side took the initiative early on and had the first chance when the impressive Ruslan Malinovskyi clipped in a deep cross for Davide Zappacosta, who cut inside and fizzed in a low drive that Péter Gulácsi did well to hold. That was as productive as La Dea got in the opening 45 minutes, though, as Leipzig constantly threatened on the counter.
It was from one such breakaway that they took an 18th-minute lead, Konrad Laimer bursting clear down the right and teeing up Nkunku to fire in off the near post. The scorer’s effort was his 47th goal involvement of the season – equalling Timo Werner’s club record.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men wrested control back after the interval and came close to levelling when Zappacosta’s deep cross was volleyed wide by an unmarked Hans Hateboer.
Nkunku remained a threat at the other end and only the chest of Juan Musso stopped him sealing Leipzig’s progress. However, his landmark second would come late on, the striker converting from the penalty spot after Musso brought him down following an incisive Yussuf Poulsen pass.
Frankfurt will go head to head with WestHam as Leipzig face Rangers in the semi-finals with the first legs on 28 April 2022 and the second legs on 5 May 2022.
This season’s final takes place at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Seville on Wednesday 18 May 2022.
