Underdogs Eintracht Frankfurt scored a major upset when they stunned hosts Barcelona 3-2 thanks to two goals from winger Filip Kostic to march into the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Serbia international Kostic converted a fourth minute penalty and added a second goal in the 67th with a low drive after Rafael Borré thundered in their second goal in the 36th for a 4-3 aggregate victory and a sensational win at the Camp Nou.
The Catalans, who had salvaged a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany last Thursday, missed a couple of chances with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but were far less threatening than their opponents who could have added to their tally.
Sergio Busquets pulled a goal back for Barça with a powerful stoppage-time effort and the Catalans scored again with a Memphis Depay penalty even deeper into injury time after Frankfurt defender Evan N’Dicka was sent off. But they ran out of time to find the third needed to force extra time.
“I am speechless,” said the Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. “Nobody expected this, to be honest. Everyone expected us to suffer here.
“We needed to take our chances and today we were very efficient. We are in the last four and we want to get as far as possible. We showed we don’t have to hide from anybody, but no doubt, now we want to make the final.”
Oliver Glasner’s team, currently in ninth place in the Bundesliga, got off to a perfect start when Eric García brought down Jesper Lindstrøm four minutes into the game and Kostic coolly sent Marc-André ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot.
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After being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Domenico Tedesco's side dominated in Bergamo, deservedly taking the lead when Nkunku (pictured) slotted home from close range in the 18th minute.
Atalanta could not get into the game and the French forward sealed victory by winning and converting a late penalty to take his tally to 30 for the season in all competitions.
"It's a fantastic night, it is not easy to win here," Tedesco told Uefa.com.
"There were no secrets to win, we defended well and unlike the first leg we did well to get past their press." Reuters
Despite Barcelona taking control, it was the visitors who were more effective and scored again with Borré’s 25-metre missile that left Ter Stegen beaten. Aubameyang should have done better three minutes after the restart when he failed to connect with an Ousmane Dembélé cutback in front of goal.
Ter Stegen then temporarily kept them in the game when he stopped a shot from Lindstrøm in the 58th but could do nothing when the unmarked Kostic found himself with far too much space on the left and drilled in a shot past the keeper.
Barça’s two stoppage time goals came far too late for a team that had almost 70% possession but fewer (10) attempts on goal to their opponents (16).
“What we did was insufficient today despite the heroic attempt in the end,” said Xavi, Barcelona’s manager. “It is very disappointing … we did not play well. We had control and possession, but found no spaces to hurt them.”
Frankfurt, who last reached the semi-final stage in 2019 and are unbeaten away from home this season in the Europa League, will now face West Ham, who were 4-1 aggregate winners over Lyon.
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