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Frankfurt cheers after the early lead
Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images
Eintracht Frankfurt is in the semi-finals of the Europa League after a sensational 3-2 (2-0) win at FC Barcelona.
In the first leg in Frankfurt, both teams had separated 1:1.
Frankfurt President Peter Fischer described the two quarter-final duels with FC Barcelona as the biggest Eintracht games since 1960, the final in the national championship cup against Real Madrid.
The Frankfurt fans saw it that way too: almost 30,000 Eintracht supporters created an extraordinary atmosphere at the Camp Nou even before the game started.
The atmosphere soon got even more boisterous: Eric García tore Jesper Lindstrøm to the ground in the penalty area, referee Artur Dias immediately pointed to the point.
Filip Kostić safely converted into the right corner to give Frankfurt the lead (4th minute).
Marc-André ter Stegen, who had saved a penalty last weekend, jumped into the other corner.
The guests, who had to play without the suspended Tuta and the injured Djibril Sow, were immediately exposed to angry attacks from Barça: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed just over it after a cross from Ousmane Dembélé (9th), Kevin Trapp had to die when Ronald Aurajo shot Raise your fists (18th).
In the middle of the first half, Eintracht calmed the encounter.
Dangerous actions by the hosts became rarer, the Bundesliga ninth struck in turn.
And how: Rafael Borré moved to the center from the left-hand position and chased the ball under the bar from almost 25 meters – a dream goal (36th).
Barcelona now completely off the roll and almost conceded the third goal: A shot by Ansgar Knauff went just over the goal of Ter Stegen (44th).
Spectator protest, technical failure, Kostić again
Barcelona started the second half with substitute Frenkie de Jong and without the most loyal fans behind Trapp's goal.
They only returned to their seats after ten minutes in protest that far more guest fans could get into the stadium than the contingent of 5000 tickets provided for.
Aubameyang had just missed a great chance to score the goal (55th).
The technology interrupted the Barça offensive vortex: Apparently, Uefa's communication had broken down, they worked for minutes to equip the referee team with functional material again.
When the ball started rolling again, Eintracht struck: Daichi Kamada was not attacked and found Kostić, who hit the far corner from the inside left (67').
"Oh, how nice," was heard from then on at Camp Nou, Eintracht missed the 4-0 several times against hosts, but was also lucky that a possible goal for Barcelona was not recognized due to a narrow offside position (83.) .
The goal came with a delay: Sergio Busquets hit the far corner with a great right-footed shot (90+1).
Memphis Depay scored a penalty in the eleventh minute of stoppage time (!), Evan Ndicka saw yellow-red.
Eintracht Frankfurt now meets West Ham United in the semi-finals.
RB Leipzig also qualified for the round of four after beating Atalanta.
The two games will be played on April 28th and May 5th.
The final will take place in Seville on May 18th.
All dates and results of the Europa League can be found in our data center.
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