Barcelona vs Frankfurt Europa League quarter-final preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups
Thursday, April 14, 2022
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When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg between Barcelona and Frankfurt.
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Barcelona and Frankfurt meet in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday 14 April.
Barcelona vs Frankfurt at a glance
When: Thursday 14 April (21:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
What: UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg
How it stands: The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage will appear here
Semi-final opponent: West Ham / Lyon
Where to watch Barcelona vs Frankfurt on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.
What happened in the first leg?
Ansgar Knauff's dipping half-volley gave Frankfurt a deserved lead three minutes into the second half, but – hot on the heels of the introduction of Ousmane Dembélé and Frenkie de Jong just after the hour – Barcelona pulled level through Ferran Torres. The Bundesliga side were reduced to ten men when Tuta was shown a late red card.
Possible starting line-ups
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Piqué, García, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembélé, Aubamayeng, Ferran Torres
Suspended for second leg: none
Misses next game if booked: Busquets, Eric García, Gavi, Jordi Alba, Piqué
Frankfurt: Trapp; Hinteregger, Hasebe, N'Dicka; Knauff, Jakić, Sow, Kostić; Lindstrøm, Borré, Kamada
Doubtful: Sow (knee)
Suspended for second leg: Tuta
Misses next game if booked: Jakić
Away goals rule abolished
There has been a rule change for 2021/22: ties level after the second leg will go to extra time and a penalty shoot-out if required, irrespective of the number of away goals a team has scored.
Form guide
Barcelona
Last five games (all competitions, most recent first): WDWWW
Where they stand: 2nd in Spanish Liga
Frankfurt
Last five games (all competitions, most recent first): LDDDD
Where they stand: 9th in Bundesliga
Expert prediction
Graham Hunter, Barcelona reporter
Xavi Hernández’s team are now 15 games unbeaten and the closest they came to losing that record was in Frankfurt. Don’t be fooled though: that impressive stat combines matches where the Blaugrana have excelled and scored for fun and others where they’ve fought tooth and nail. Piqué remains a doubt, one which rises in importance because, unless Sergiño Dest regains fitness, Xavi will want to move Araujo from centre-back to right-back. Set your navigator for thrills and a grandstand finale.
Steffen Potter, Frankfurt reporter
Frankfurt are still inconsistent in the Bundesliga and lost 2-1 at home against Freiburg on Sunday. However, a goalless draw against Fürth the week before was followed up with a strong showing in the first leg of this tie against Barcelona. With a 1-1 draw in the first meeting, Frankfurt can again play on the counter and maybe once more prove to be a difficult opponent for the Blaugrana, although the suspended Tuta will be sorely missed.
What the coaches say
Xavi Hernández, Barcelona coach: "We are FC Barcelona, the most demanding club in the world. We have an obligation to win and play well. We hope to win the Europa League, which is the only title the club does not have."
Oliver Glasner, Frankfurt coach: "We are aware that it will be a very difficult task against a very strong team but we took the confidence from the first leg. One thing is clear: a very good performance is required in all areas. There are many things that have to be right. We still have room for improvement compared to last week. Defensive organisation, concentration, alertness, but also going forwards."
Where is the 2022 Europa League final?
Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium will stage the final on Wednesday 18 May.
The winners gain a place in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.