The Spaniard scored the equaliser after the German side had taken the lead courtesy of a brilliant long-range strike from Ansgar Knauff.
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Barcelona forward Ferran Torres says “winning the Europa League is an objective” after securing a draw away from home against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg tie of the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday. The Spaniard scored the equaliser after the hosts had taken the lead through Ansgar Knauff’s brilliant strike. Barcelona were clearly the second best team on the night in Frankfurt but managed to keep things in the balance, heading into the second leg at Cam Nou next Thursday.
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“To go behind but end up drawing might end up a very valuable result for the second leg. Frankfurt were a tough rival – they made things difficult,” Torres said.
Frankfurt produced an energetic performance at Deutsche Bank Park to push Barca into the back foot and for all their good work, the German club deservedly took the lead early in the second half. Midfielder Knauff’s superb long-range strike on 48 minutes, went past Andre ter Stegen and into the top corner.
On the hour mark, Xavi introduced Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele and the substitutes quickly combined to make the difference as Barca equalised on 66 minutes. Dembele gave the ball to De Jong on the edge of the box and the Dutchman played a nice little one-two with Torres before giving the ball back to the Spaniard to slot home from 10 yards.
“The main thing was that we were patient and the reward was that we got a good equaliser. For a striker like me it’s always important to get your goals, to help the team.”
It was a tough outing for Xavi’s side as they struggled to cope with Frankfurt’s counter-attacking football. The Germans were quick in their transition from defence to attack and didn’t allow the opposition to settle in with their tough physical game.
“You always expect the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition to produce a tough rival but we are Barça, we are obligated to compete for every trophy and winning the Europa League is an objective.”
The winner of the second leg will face either Lyon or West Ham in the semi-final. Barca head to Levante in La Liga over the weekend, while Eintracht Frankfurt host SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
