Nou or never

Barcelona in need of rare European home victory against Frankfurt

BARCELONA have toiled at home in continental competition this season but they will need to find a way past Eintracht Frankfurt at the Nou Camp tomorrow if they are to reach the semifinals of the Europa League.

The Catalans needed a second half Ferran Torres strike to come from behind and draw 1-1 with Eintracht in Germany in the first leg of their quarterfinal last week, leaving the tie open going into the return.

Barca have won just once at home in Europe this season, edging Dynamo Kiev 1-0 during their failed Champions League group-stage campaign.

Since dropping into the Europa League – the first time they have taken part in the second-tier European competition since 2004 – they have drawn at home to both Napoli and Galatasaray before getting the job done in the return.

There may be no away goals advantage anymore, but current form makes Barcelona clear favourites to advance to the last four with Xavi Hernandez’s team unbeaten in 15 games, a run that has lifted them back up to second in La Liga.

That means they are unlikely to have to win the Europa League to return to the Champions League next season, but they still want to finish the season with silverware and are eyeing a place in the final in Seville on May 18.

Eintracht are in mid-table in the Bundesliga and have not won any of their last five matches but they have lost only once to Spanish opposition – against Real Madrid in the 1960 European Cup final.

Whoever emerges victorious at the Nou Camp will play either Lyon or West Ham United in the last four.

Those sides meet in France with their quarterfinal tie also finely poised after a 1-1 draw in London, where West Ham held out despite having Aaron Cresswell sent off in the first half.

“We didn’t play well and we can only play much better next week,” said West Ham manager David Moyes after the first leg.

They will be without French international defender Kurt Zouma due to injury for the return against Lyon.

On the other side of the draw Rangers must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit as they play host to Braga at Ibrox, and the winner of that tie will face either Atalanta or RB Leipzig in the semifinals.

Meanwhile Leicester City go to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven in the Europa Conference League hoping to progress to the first European semifinal in their history.

The teams drew 0-0 in England last week and the winner will face either Roma or Bodo/Glimt.

Jose Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 in Norway last week meaning they have not beaten Bodo/Glimt in three attempts this season.

That match was marred at the end by a scuffle involving Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen and Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos. Both men have been suspended for what could be a tense return leg. – AFP