European roundup: Torres salvages first leg draw for Barcelona in Frankfurt

Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Torres cancelled out Ansgar Knauff’s first-half opener in a lively clash at the Waldstadion, which the hosts finished with 10 men having put the competition favourites on the back foot.

The hosts soaked up the pressure early on, hoping to hit Barca on the break, but were in danger after three minutes when Kevin Trapp tipped Torres’s shot over the bar. Trapp was at it again to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the game was to swing the German side’s way.

Sergio Busquets appeared to bring down Rafael Santos Borré in the area before the break but referee Srdjan Jovanovic overturned his initial penalty call out after a VAR review.

Eintracht kept going, though, and were rewarded three minutes into the second half when Knauff found the back of the net with a floating shot from outside the box after a poor clearance by the Barça defence.

Oliver Glasner’s team continued to play with a low block and were punished in the 66th minute as Torres beat Trapp with a low shot after a one-two with Frenkie De Jong, who had just come on.

Eintracht’s hopes of a late winner were dashed in the 78th when Tuta got a second yellow card for a rough challenge on Pedri, leaving his team to finish the game a man short.

RB Leipzig needed an own goal by Davide Zappacosta to salvage a 1-1 draw in an absorbing Europa League quarter-final first leg against Atalanta at the RB Arena.

Luis Muriel’s individual effort after 17 minutes gave the Italian side the lead as he cut into the box and evaded two challenges before sending a powerful