Barcelona eliminated, West Ham advance in Europa League

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Barcelona’s European campaign went from bad to worse in their first season after Lionel Messi.

The Spanish powerhouse was knocked out of the lucrative Champions League first, and now they have been knocked out of the second-tier Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt.

The German side stunned Barcelona 3-2 at Camp Nou to advance to the semi-finals on aggregate 4-3.

Barcelona were the title favourites, looking to win the only trophy that was not part of their collection. He was playing for the first time in the Europa League and had never won its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, reaching the semi-finals four times but failing to reach a final. Frankfurt won the UEFA Cup in 1980.

Frankfurt will next face West Ham after the Premier League club qualified for the semi-finals of European competition for the first time since 1976 by eliminating Lyon 4-1 on aggregate.

Earlier, Christopher Nkunku netted twice to help Leipzig reach their first semi-finals in European competition with a 2-0 win at Atalanta.

Kemar Roofe scored in extra time as Rangers won 3-1 over Braga at nine for a 3-2 aggregate victory to face Leipzig next.

Leicester became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League after coming from within a goal to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the Netherlands.

The Premier League side will next face Roma. With José Mourinho in charge, Roma are one of the favorites to win UEFA’s new third-tier competition. The Italian club got their revenge by beating Norway’s Bodø/Glimt 4-0 to advance to the semi-finals 5-2 on aggregate.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Barcelona had possession, but Frankfurt scored. They were tied 1-1 after the first leg.

In a dream start for the visitors, Filip Kostić put them 1-0 ahead from the penalty spot after four minutes, sending goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen the wrong way.

Rafael Borre doubled the advantage still in the first half with a drive into the roof of the net from 25 meters (yards), giving Ter Stegen no chance. Kostić scored again in the 67th minute.

Barcelona threatened late when Sergio Busquets scored in the 91st minute. The visitors were reduced to 10 after Evan N’Dicka received the second yellow before substitute Memphis Depay’s penalty after 11 minutes of added play.

USA defender Sergiño Dest came on for Barcelona in the 61st, his first appearance since straining his left thigh at Galatasaray on March 17.

At Lyon, West Ham survived the early pressure and Craig Dawson scored the first goal from Pablo Fornals’ corner in the 38th minute. Declan Rice doubled the lead with a deflected shot six minutes later.

Jarrod Bowen made it 3-0 three minutes into the second half with a low shot from the edge of the box.

At Glasgow’s Ibrox Stadium, James Tavernier erased Braga’s 1-0 first leg deficit with an angled shot in the 2nd minute. The Rangers defender scored his second from the penalty spot just before half-time. David Carmo’s header for Braga in the 83rd minute forced extra time, and Roofe’s effort in the 101st sent a power-up for Rangers.

Nkunku scored after 18 minutes from a Konrad Laimer assist and doubled the advantage from a penalty late in the second half to seal Leipzig’s 3-1 aggregate victory.

Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso had fouled Nkunku in the box to score the Frenchman’s 30th goal of the season in all competitions.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Leicester became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League after coming from within a goal to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the Netherlands.

Leicester’s 2-1 aggregate win after a 0-0 first-leg draw sets up a semi-final tie against Roma.

Ricardo Pereira scored the winner two minutes from time to win the first European semi-finals for Leicester after goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo saved substitute Patson Daka’s attempt.

Eindhoven opened the scoring when former Germany international Mario Götze set Eran Zahavi in ​​for his eighth European goal this season and his fourth in the last four Europa Conference League games.

James Maddison canceled that out for Leicester in the 77th minute.

At Rome’s Stadio Olympic, striker Tammy Abraham opened the scoring for Roma in the fifth minute before Nicolò Zaniolo stole the show. He extended the lead to 3-0 with two goals – the first between the legs of goalkeeper Nikita Haikin – in the space of six minutes later in the first half and completed his hat-trick early in the second. .

Marseille won the second leg at PAOK Thessaloniki 1-0 to advance 3-1 on aggregate and meet Feyenoord in the semi-finals after the Dutch club eliminated Slavia Prague 6-4 on aggregate. Cyriel Dessers scored twice to lead Feyenoord to a 3-1 win over Slavia.

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