Barcelona heckled by Frankfurt, Leipzig and Bergamo neutralize each other, Braga the only winner … What to remember from the first leg quarter-finals

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They are only eight still in the running to claim to win the Europa League. Among them, a French representative, Lyon, who had to settle for a disappointing draw against West Ham on Thursday April 7 (1-1). Everything remains to be done before the return for the OL players and the situation is the same for almost all the teams involved in the quarter-finals, with the exception of Braga, who took a slight lead against Glasgow Rangers (1 -0).

Barcelona are doing well in Frankfurt

Far from the account in the league and obviously eliminated from the Champions League, FC Barcelona is doing better and can envisage a nice trophy in the Europa League. But things did not go as planned against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night (1-1). Xavi’s players drew in Germany and will certainly have the advantage of playing at home in a week, but they did not shine.

They were even led to the score as soon as they returned from the locker room after a goal from young Ansgar Knauff (20 years old), author of a volley, from the outside of the foot, magnificent (48th). The Barcelonans came back to score thanks to a nice combination between Frenkie De Jong and Ferran Torres (66th). But they failed to take advantage of the expulsion of defender Tuta (78th) and will have to make the difference at Camp Nou.

Leipzig and Atalanta leave each other back to back after an intense match

In this poster with the flavors of the Champions League between two clubs accustomed to the final stages of C1 in recent years, everything will be decided in the second leg since the two clubs parted on a score of parity (1-1) at the end of a pleasant encounter. It was the Italians who opened the scoring with a splendid goal from Luis Muriel who dribbled past two German defenders before catapulting his ball into the right corner of Peter Gulacsi (17th).

The teammates of French neo-international Christopher Nkunku, at home, managed to return to the game with an own goal from Davide Zappacosta, put under pressure by Willi Orban (58th). An equalizer came just after a penalty missed by André Silva (obtained by Nkunku). The goals could have rained but the sums decided otherwise, twice for each team and the qualification will therefore be played in Bergamo over 90 minutes or even 120 in the event of a draw.

Braga, only evening winner in the Europa League

The last match of the evening was between Braga and Glasgow Rangers and did not end in a 1-1 draw like the other three. The Portuguese scored a single goal, like all the others, but stood out by not conceding any. Matheus’ clean sheet therefore allows his teammates to win 1-0. A realization of the Spanish hope Abel Ruiz, already scorer in the first leg and return against Monaco in the round of 16.

This home victory will therefore allow Braga to consider the trip to Scotland more calmly. In the Ibrox stadium, Rangers have lost only once at home in the competition, against Lyon in the opening match. But a draw will be enough for the Portuguese to reach the last four.


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