After the first leg completed 1-1 in Germany final week, Barca have been robust favourites to win at domestic against a aspect sitting 9th within the Bundesliga. But Frankfurt, stimulated by way of an splendid traveling assist of round 20,000 fans, outplayed the Catalans, Filip Kostic scoring two times, the first an early penalty, both aspect of a beautiful lengthy-range strike by Rafael Santos Borre.
Sergio Busquets pulled one lower back for Barcelona within the 91st minute after which Memphis Depay scored a penalty inside the 11th minute of injury time because the hosts tried a late comeback. But it turned into too little too overdue as Frankfurt sealed a momentous 4-3 mixture win. They will face West Ham inside the remaining four after the Premier League side cruised past Lyon. "We'll move there and beat them," Frankfurt's sporting director Markus Kroesche had said on Wednesday but few believed it feasible, no longer least due to Barcelona's exceptional recent run of shape below Xavi Hernandez.
They have been undefeated given that December in all competitions and feature surged up to second in La Liga after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 on the Santiago Bernabeu much less than a month ago. While that run method Barca have to now not need the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League next season, this turned into a wonderful hazard for Xavi to add a trophy to what has been an excellent first few months as train.
Instead, Frankfurt go through to the ultimate four and the German club will now be eyeing a first European triumph since they won the UEFA Cup in 1980. Frankfurt exploded out of the blocks and Barca gave them a head begin, Eric Garcia flattening Jesper Lindstroem beneath a excessive ball in the box and Kostic driving within the penalty after 3 minutes played.
Barcelona went near an equaliser as Ronald Araujo's volley turned into palmed away before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed Ousmane Dembele's pass simply over. But Frankfurt kept pouring ahead at the counter and inside the 36th minute they scored once more. Dembele's skip for Busquets fell brief in midfield and Frankfurt broke fast. Kostic scooped in-discipline for Borre, who advanced on the chickening out Araujo and then unleashed from 40 yards, the ball thundering past Marc-Andre ter Stegen and into the internet.
Frenkie de Jong changed the injured Pedri at half of-time and Barca almost grabbed the early intention they wished but Aubameyang inexplicably neglected the ball from a yard out at the lower back submit. At the other cease, Lindstroem could have put Frankfurt out of sight however his finish changed into blocked via the proper foot of Ter Stegen while Barca desired a penalty for a handball towards Borre but technical problems averted the referee from reviewing on VAR.
Aubameyang and Garcia each went off and moments later, Frankfurt hit Barca with a 3rd that became as ruthless because it became easy. A throw-in changed into headed onto Daichi Kamada, who had time to shift left to Kostic. Sergino Dest changed into slow to shut the space and Kostic punished him, unleashing a shot beyond Ter Stegen and into the a long way nook.
Busquets, who had already had a intention dominated out by VAR, in the end lashed one in for Barcelona inside the first minute of harm time. Barca wanted two extra. They need to have were given one but Araujo's finish was blocked and Luuk de Jong headed wide. Then they did, De Jong barged over by way of Evan N'Dicka and Depay finishing from the spot. There turned into no time for some other assault.
