Three Levante penalties and a last-minute goal: Barcelona won with difficulty in the dress rehearsal for the Frankfurt game
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League opponents FC Barcelona have completed a successful but unconvincing dress rehearsal. Four days before the quarter-final second leg at Camp Nou, the Catalans struggled in the Spanish league against relegation candidates UD Levante after a very happy 3-2 (0-0). Substitute Luuk De Jong sealed the win with his goal in added time (90+2).
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The hosts took the lead after José Luis Morales took the first penalty (52nd minute). The former BVB professional Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (59th) and Pedri (63rd) then turn the party within just under five minutes. With the second penalty kick, Gonzalo Melero equalized for the courageous outsider (83rd). National goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen even saved a hand penalty from Levante striker Roger Marti (56th).
Even after the away win, the team coached by Xavi Hernandez – like Sevilla FC – still has twelve points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid, who lead the Primera Division table with 72 points. However, Barca played one game less.