Barcelona were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League following their 2-3 goals defeat against Frankfurt in the Camp Nou on Thursday.
The Catalan Club’s nightmare continues as they are out of all the major tournaments this season. This home defeat leaves Barcelona without a trophy in European competitions and probably without a trophy in all competitions this season.
Overview:
After drawing the away leg by 1-1 goals with the Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, Barcelona hosted the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals ties at home. The German club defeated the home side with an incredible performance by 2-3 goals on the night and 3-4 on aggregate.
1-1 goals level on aggregate, the La Liga club was confident to host the second leg at home. Things got all wrong for the Catalans from the very beginning of the match. Barcelona’s defense continued their penalty conceding streak; they conceded one just 2 minutes into the match, following three penalties against Levante at the weekend. Filip Kostic scored from the penalty spot by sending Stegen the wrong way, making it 1-0 goals on the night for Frankfurt, 2-1 on aggregate.
Frankfurt stunned Barcelona by scoring another goal in the first half when Colombian forward Rafael Borre hit a sensational screamer from a long distance into the top left corner. The visiting side finished the first half with a delicious lead of 2-0 goals on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
Frankfurt buried Barcelona deep into the grave in the 67th minute, when Filip Kostic got his second goal of the night, putting the ball low past Stegen into the far post. 30,000 Frankfurt fans went ballistic at the Camp Nou. Barcelona couldn’t believe what had happened. They found themselves 3-0 goals behind at home on the night, 4-1 goals on aggregate.
In the 83rd minute, Sergio Busquets put one inside the net, which was disallowed for offside by the VAR. However, Busquets got his goal in the 91st minute with a powerful shot from outside of the box, making it 3-1 on the night. Barcelona put huge pressure at the end and got back another goal at the very death when Memphis Depay scored from the penalty spot, making it 3-2 goals on the night, 4-3 goals behind on aggregate. But it was too late for Barcelona to make another attack before the final whistle.
Barcelona in Season 2021-2022
Before the Europa League disaster, Barcelona suffered the UEFA Champions League collapse; they were knocked out from the group stage for the first time in 18 years. The Catalan club were knocked out of the domestic Copa del Rey as well.
The Blaugrana are currently at the second spot in the La Liga table, 12 points behind the league leader Real Madrid playing a matchless, with only 8 matches to go. Xavi’s side should, most probably, finish second in the La Liga this season. It means that Barcelona has to be satisfied without any trophies this season as the team shows the sign of coming back strongly.
Xavi Hernandez, the Barcelona legend and manager, has been restoring the club as an European powerhouse once more, had a 15 match unbeaten run in all competitions before the defeat against Frankfurt, 7 straight win the La Liga.
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