Soccer

European round-up: Aubameyang goal sends Barcelona through to quarter-finals

Andriy Yarmolenko goal earns West Ham an extra-time win over Seville

Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana heads home a goal during the Europa Conference League round of 16 second leg match against Rennes at Roazhon Park. Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images

Thu Mar 17 2022 - 20:36

Barcelona fought back to win 2-1 at Galatasaray on Thursday and advance to the Europa League quarter-finals on the same aggregate after a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Brazilian defender Marcao gave the Turkish side the lead in the 28th minute with a diving header from a corner.

Pedri scored the equaliser for Barcelona with a fine individual goal, receiving a pass from Ferran Torres and leaving two defenders on the floor with great skill before tucking home from close range.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores Barcelona’s second goal during the Europa League round of 16, second leg against Galatasaray in Istanbul. Photograph: Tolga Bozoglu/EPA

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang headed against the post before the break and the former Arsenal striker put Barca ahead three minutes into the second half with a close-range header after two magnificent stops by Galatasaray goalkeeper Inaki Pena who is on loan from the Spanish club.

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Barca ran down the clock, infuriating the home crowd who started throwing bottles and plastic cups on to the field and the referee stopped the game for a few minutes while the Galatasaray players tried to calm their fans down.

Andriy Yarmolenko climbed off the bench to sink Sevilla as West Ham prolonged their European adventure with a dramatic extra-time win.

The Hammers, debutants in the knock-out stage of the Europa League, stunned one of the tournament favourites and six-time winners at a raucous London Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Tomas Soucek headed West Ham level in the first half.

And on a genuine European glory night, reminiscent of Upton Park in its heyday, Yarmolenko fired the Hammers to a 2-1 aggregate victory and into a historic quarter-final.

Rangers made the last eight despite losing 2-1 at Red Star Belgrade, progressing 3-2 on aggregate.

Mirko Ivanic gave the Serbian side hope by scoring the opener early in the first half, but the Scottish side held on and Ryan Kent equalised after the interval.

El Fardou Ben’s goal in stoppage time was too little too late for Red Star.

Braga pulled of a spirited 1-1 draw at Monaco, advancing 3-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0 in Portugal.

In Germany, Atalanta won 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a late goal from Jeremie Boga and advanced to the quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate.

In the Europa Conference League, Wesley Fofana's fairytale return sent battling Leicester into the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

The defender – out for seven months with a broken leg – scored to help dump Rennes out, despite the Foxes losing 2-1 in France.

They squeezed through to the last eight 3-2 on aggregate after Flavien Tait won it for Rennes on Thursday.

Fofana cancelled out Benjamin Bourigeaud’s early opener and Leicester were indebted to Kasper Schmeichel’s save to deny Serhou Guirassy as they survived Rennes’ desperate late charge.