Europa League: Barcelona eliminated by Frankfurt, West Ham trump Lyon

Barcelona’s European campaign has gone from bad to worse in its first season post Lionel Messi. First the Spanish powerhouse was eliminated from the lucrative Champions League, and now it has been knocked out of the second-tier Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt.

The German team stunned Barcelona 3-2 at the Camp Nou to advance to the semifinals on a 4-3 aggregate score. Barcelona was the title favorite, looking to win the one trophy not in its collection. It was playing for the first time in the Europa League and had never won its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, reaching the semifinals on four occasions but not getting to a final. Frankfurt won the UEFA Cup in 1980.

Frankfurt will next face West Ham after the Premier League club advanced to a European competition semifinals for first time since 1976 by eliminating Lyon 4-1 on aggregate. Earlier, Christopher Nkunku scored twice to help Leipzig reach its first semifinals in a European competition with a 2-0 victory at Atalanta. 

Kemar Roofe scored in extra time for Rangers to prevail 3-1 over nine-man Braga for a 3-2 aggregate victory to face Leipzig next. Barcelona had possession, but Frankfurt scored. They had entered tied 1-1 after the first leg. In a dream start for the visitors, Filip Kostić put them ahead 1-0 from the penalty spot four minutes into the game, 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 ahead of substitute Memphis Depay’s penalty 11 minutes into stoppage time.

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

In Lyon, West Ham survived early pressure and Craig Dawson netted the opening goal from Pablo Fornals’ corner kick in the 38th. Declan Rice doubled the lead with a deflected shot six minutes later. Jarrod Bowen stretched the lead to 3-0 three minutes into the second half with a low shot from the edge of the area.