AFP, Frankfurt :
A second-half equaliser by Ferran Torres rescued Barcelona on Thursday as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Frankfurt, who had Brazilian defender Tuta sent off for a second booking late on, took the lead when Ansgar Knauff hit the top corner with a curling long-range shot just after half-time.
Barcelona had a let off when referee Srdjan Jovanovic reversed his decision to award a penalty when captain Sergio Busquets brought down Rafael Borre.
However, Barcelona fought back when Torres tapped in after combining with Frenkie de Jong in the 66th minute.
“To go behind but end up drawing might end up a very valuable result for the second leg,” said Torres.
“Frankfurt were tough – they made things difficult. The main thing was that we were patient and the reward was that we got a good equaliser.”
Torres’ equaliser makes them favourites for the return leg at Camp Nou next Thursday.
“We put in a superb performance and didn’t allow them much in the entire 90 minutes,” said Frankfurt scorer Knauff.
“It’s almost a bit annoying that we didn’t hold on for the win, but anything is possible for the second leg.”
A sell-out home crowd of 48,000 created a highly-charged atmosphere.
It inspired Frankfurt to create 18 shots on goal, to Barcelona’s seven.
There was a huge roar from the Frankfurt crowd when the referee pointed to the spot after Busquets brought down Borre on 38 minutes as the Colombia striker tried to pounce on a loose ball.
The penalty decision was reversed after a VAR review, but the hosts went ahead soon after the break.
Barcelona cleared a corner only as far as Knauff who unleashed a dipping half-volley just out of reach of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona equalised when substitutes Ousmane Dembele and De Jong combined before the latter teed-up Torres to fire home.
Frankfurt were reduced to 10 men for the final 12 minutes when Tuta picked up a second booking after a mistimed challenge on Pedri.
“It was difficult to get a grip on the game, they defended well and didn’t give us much space,” admitted Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez.
“We were better in the second half, they attacked us on the counter and they had their chance.
“We will have our fans behind us for the return to hopefully put us in the semi-finals.”
Elsewhere, Jarrod Bowen scored as West Ham battled to a 1-1 draw at home to Lyon after Aaron Cresswell was sent off just before half-time for a foul on Moussa Dembele.
