Barcelona were far from their recent performances and will have to do much more in seven-days-time at Camp Nou if they were to proceed in the competition. If it wasn’t for Ferran Torres and his equaliser to cancel out Ansgar Knauff’s wonder-goal, Barcelona would walk away beaten against Eintracht Frankfurt.This huge clash against a juggernaut of European football could’ve sold out Deutsche Bank Park five times over as the Eagles and their fans do not have matches like these often.It took only three minutes for Kevin Trapp’s net to be in fanger but Torres’ rasping shot from distance, destined for the top corner, was denied with a stunning save.EUROPA LEAGUE: Two goals, three posts, one saved penalty and a draw between Leipzig and AtalantaFrom that point on – the home team took over. That early scare shocked Oliver Glasner’s men into life and the Austrian manager would’ve been dumbfounded as to how his side didn’t take the lead just moments later. Jesper Lindstrøm’s cut-back perfectly picked out Djibril Sow who had found space inside the box, but the midfielder failed to hit the target.Shortly before the interval, Frankfurt thought they’d won a penalty after Sergio Busquets’ challenge on Rafael Santos Borré – however, the decision was overturned by VAR as the veteran midfielder had clearly got to the ball first.Hosts were a better side in the first half and it paid dividends soon after the second half started. Xavi was keen to see an improvement from his side after the interval but his hopes were dashed inside the opening two minutes of the half. Barça failed to adequately clear a corner, the ball dropped to Borussia Dortmund loanee Knauff on the edge of the box. The young German was allowed enough time to tame the ball, before unleashing a glorious outside-of-the-boot volley into the top corner. Marc-André Ter Stegen was helpless.The situation on the pitch changed immensely when Xavi introduced Frankie De Jong and Ousmane Dembele. Within only four minutes his decision was proven as the right one. Two subs linked up with Ferran Torres in exquisite tiki-taka fashion to unlock the Frankfurt defence before Torres sent the ball behind Trapp.The intensity remained at a high level but as far as the hosts go – any chance of them re-establishing their lead looked to be over when Tuta received his second yellow card, after a late challenge on Pedri.Having that extra-man on the pitch didn’t do much for visitors and it ended will one-all in Frankfurt. After extending their unbeaten streak to 14 matches, Barcelona head into the second leg as favourites but the Eagles proved they have no fear against the giant of European football.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEQuarter-final, first legThursdayRB Leipzig – Atalanta 1-1 (0-1)/Zappacosta (og) 58 – Muriel 17/Eintr.Frankfurt – Barcelona 1-1 (0-0)/Knauff 48 – Torres 66/West Ham – Olympique Lyon 1-1 (0-0)/Bowen 52 – Ndombele 66/Braga – Rangers 1-0 (1-0)/Ruiz 40/***odds are subject to change***European time (add an hour)
