Ferran Torres scored for Barcelona as they fought back at Eintracht Frankfurt to earn a draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Ansgar Knauff’s superb long-distance strike shortly after half-time raised the prospect of a first Barcelona defeat since December.
But Torres combined brilliantly with Frenkie de Jong before scoring with a low drive.
The hosts had defender Tuta sent off late on but Barca could not capitalise.
That dismissal for two bookings capped a busy evening for English referee Michael Oliver, who earlier awarded Frankfurt a penalty before changing his mind after being sent to the pitchside monitor.
Former Manchester City attacker Torres’s goal means the Spanish side, now unbeaten in 22 games and rejuvenated under manager Xavi, will be favourites to advance to the semi-finals when they meet again for the second leg at the Nou Camp next Thursday.
The winner will meet either West Ham or Lyon in the semi-finals, with that tie evenly poised after a 1-1 first-leg draw at London Stadium.
Line-ups
Frankfurt
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Trapp
- 35Silva MeloBooked at 78mins
- 13Hinteregger
- 2Ndicka
- 36Knauff
- 6JakicBooked at 82minsSubstituted forRodeat 89′minutes
- 8Sow
- 10KosticBooked at 45mins
- 29LindstrømSubstituted forHaugeat 73′minutes
- 15KamadaSubstituted forTouréat 81′minutes
- 19BorréSubstituted forAcheat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Hrustic
- 9Lammers
- 17Rode
- 18Touré
- 20Hasebe
- 21Ache
- 22Chandler
- 23Hauge
- 24da Costa
- 27Barkok
- 31Grahl
- 39Mendes Paciência
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 4Araújo
- 3PiquéSubstituted forLengletat 23′minutes
- 24García
- 18Alba
- 16González
- 5Busquets
- 30PáezSubstituted forde Jongat 62′minutes
- 11TraoréSubstituted forDembéléat 62′minutes
- 25Aubameyang
- 19Torres
Substitutes
- 6Puig Martí
- 7Dembélé
- 12Braithwaite
- 13Murara Neto
- 15Lenglet
- 21de Jong
- 22Mingueza
- 28González Iglesias
- 31Balde Martínez
- 36Tenas
Live Text
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Match ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barcelona 1.
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Second Half ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barcelona 1.
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Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Sebastian Rode replaces Kristijan Jakic.
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Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Ragnar Ache replaces Rafael Borré.
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Attempt missed. Clément Lenglet (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Almamy Touré.
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Attempt blocked. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Almamy Touré.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Ansgar Knauff.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Obite Evan Ndicka.
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Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt).
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Attempt blocked. Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Djibril Sow.
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Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Almamy Touré replaces Daichi Kamada.
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Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Eric García.
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Second yellow card to Tuta (Eintracht Frankfurt) for a bad foul.
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Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tuta (Eintracht Frankfurt).
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Attempt missed. Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tuta.
Ferran Torres’s goal ensured Barcelona’s unbeaten run, stretching back to 8 December, continuesFerran Torres scored for Barcelona as they fought back at Eintracht Frankfurt to earn a draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.Ansgar Knauff’s superb long-distance strike shortly after half-time raised the prospect of a first Barcelona defeat since December.But Torres combined brilliantly with Frenkie de Jong before scoring with a low drive.The hosts had defender Tuta sent off late on but Barca could not capitalise.That dismissal for two bookings capped a busy evening for English referee Michael Oliver, who earlier awarded Frankfurt a penalty before changing his mind after being sent to the pitchside monitor.Former Manchester City attacker Torres’s goal means the Spanish side, now unbeaten in 22 games and rejuvenated under manager Xavi, will be favourites to advance to the semi-finals when they meet again for the second leg at the Nou Camp next Thursday.The winner will meet either West Ham or Lyon in the semi-finals, with that tie evenly poised after a 1-1 first-leg draw at London Stadium.Line-upsFrankfurtFormation 3-4-2-11Trapp35Silva Melo13Hinteregger2Ndicka36Knauff6Jakic8Sow10Kostic29Lindstrøm15Kamada19Borré1Trapp35Silva MeloBooked at 78mins13Hinteregger2Ndicka36Knauff6JakicBooked at 82minsSubstituted forRodeat 89’minutes8Sow10KosticBooked at 45mins29LindstrømSubstituted forHaugeat 73’minutes15KamadaSubstituted forTouréat 81’minutes19BorréSubstituted forAcheat 89’minutesSubstitutes7Hrustic9Lammers17Rode18Touré20Hasebe21Ache22Chandler23Hauge24da Costa27Barkok31Grahl39Mendes PaciênciaBarcelonaFormation 4-3-31ter Stegen4Araújo3Piqué24García18Alba16González5Busquets30Páez11Traoré25Aubameyang19Torres1ter Stegen4Araújo3PiquéSubstituted forLengletat 23’minutes24García18Alba16González5Busquets30PáezSubstituted forde Jongat 62’minutes11TraoréSubstituted forDembéléat 62’minutes25Aubameyang19TorresSubstitutes6Puig Martí7Dembélé12Braithwaite13Murara Neto15Lenglet21de Jong22Mingueza28González Iglesias31Balde Martínez36TenasLive TextMatch ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barcelona 1.Second Half ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barcelona 1.Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Sebastian Rode replaces Kristijan Jakic.Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Ragnar Ache replaces Rafael Borré.Attempt missed. Clément Lenglet (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé with a cross following a corner.Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Almamy Touré.Attempt blocked. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé.Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Almamy Touré.Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Ansgar Knauff.Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Obite Evan Ndicka.Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.Foul by Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt).Attempt blocked. Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Djibril Sow.Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Almamy Touré replaces Daichi Kamada.Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Eric García.Second yellow card to Tuta (Eintracht Frankfurt) for a bad foul.Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Tuta (Eintracht Frankfurt).Attempt missed. Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tuta.