UEL: Frankfurt hold Barcelona to a 1-1 draw
Frankfurt and Barcelona conjured up a spectacular goal apiece to leave their UEFA Europa League quarter-final all square after an engaging contest in Germany.
Both sides started brightly, with Kevin Trapp pulling off a smart fingertip save to deny Ferran Torres with just three minutes gone. The hosts cut through the Barcelona defence just moments later, with Djibril Sow slicing wide from close range following Jesper Lindstrøm’s cutback.
The Bundesliga outfit deservedly took the lead just after the break, when Ansgar Knauff sent a dipping half-volley out of Marc-André ter Stegen’s reach after the visitors had only half-cleared a corner. Oliver Glasner’s men almost doubled their advantage straight away, but Lindstrøm blasted wide from Filip Kostić’s low centre.
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However, Xavi Hernández’s introduction of Ousmane Dembélé and Frenkie de Jong just after the hour mark paid dividends, with both combining in the neat passing move that Ferran Torres capped with a crisp finish. The hosts were reduced to ten men in the closing stages when Tuta was shown a second yellow card, but the Bundesliga club held firm.
Frankfurt are unbeaten in their last eight UEFA club competition matches against Spanish sides winning three and drawing five.
