We played a match of huge personality: Xavi

Barca boss Hernandez lauds team’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Galatasaray to enter quarters

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winner as Barcelona fought back from a goal down to beat Galatasaray 2-1 on Thursday to book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals. 

After a goalless first leg at the Camp Nou last week, Xavi Hernandez’s Barca trailed on aggregate in the Last-16 when Marcao headed Galatasaray into a 28th-minute lead on the night in Istanbul. But 19-year-old midfielder Pedri drew the visitors level before the break.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez

The Catalan giants, playing in Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time since 2004 after a Champions League group-stage exit, forged ahead for the first time in the tie less than five minutes into the second half.

Clasico on Barca’s mind

Aubameyang, a January signing after his contract with Arsenal was ended, tapped in from Frenkie de Jong’s pass to score his seventh goal for the club. Barcelona will now turn their attention to this weekend’s Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. “We played a match of huge personality,” said Xavi. 

“It was a great performance to fight back on a ground like this against a very good team.” 

Third in La Liga standings

Xavi’s men sit third in the La Liga table, 15 points behind runaway leaders Real, as they look to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Ukrainian international Yarmolenko scored for the second time in a week after also netting against Aston Villa at the weekend as West Ham beat record six-time winners Sevilla 2-0 at the London Stadium. 

Trailing 1-0 after the first leg, David Moyes’ side levelled the tie in the 39th minute through Tomas Soucek. The match went to extra time, and Yarmolenko pounced after Pablo Fornals’ shot was saved to send West Ham into the quarters of a major European competition for the first time since 1981. Yarmolenko was given time off by the club after Russia invaded Ukraine, and he has now scored in both of his appearances since. “Andriy Yarmolenko is such a lovely guy,” striker Michail Antonio told BT Sport. 

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through. He’s got a finishing touch now. Hopefully he can keep doing it.”

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