Madrid, Feb. 18 (BNA): After withdrawing from the Champions League, Barcelona now faces a difficult task just to qualify for the round of 16 in the European League.
In their first appearance in Europe’s second division in nearly two decades, the Catalan club drew 1-1 with Napoli at the Camp Nou on Thursday in the first leg of one of eight playoffs between the third-placed Champions League playoffs. Groups and summer group European League.
This is the first time since 2003-2004 that Barcelona have not entered the knockout stages of the Champions League, a tournament they have won five times, according to the Associated Press.
In other matches, the Scottish Rangers surprised Borussia Dortmund away from home 4-2, Real Betis beat Zenit St Petersburg 3-2, and Al Sharif beat Braga 1-0. Sevilla, Atalanta and Porto scored victories at home, while Real Sociedad drew 2-2 with RB Leipzig.
In the play-offs to reach the Round of 16 of the inaugural European Conference League, Leicester finished a five-game losing streak in all competitions by beating Denmark’s Randers 4-1, while Norway’s innovative Bodo/Glimt beat Celtic 3-1 in Glasgow.
Marseille, Eindhoven, Rapid Vienna, Midtjelland, Slavia Prague and Partizan Belgrade also won the opening match. The return matches in both competitions are scheduled to take place on February 24.
Ferran Torres saved Barcelona the equalizer by converting a penalty awarded for Juan Jesus’ handball in the 59th minute. The striker calmly sent goalkeeper Alex Meret in the opposite direction from the penalty mark. Barcelona dominated the remaining 30 minutes but could not find a winner.
Napoli scored a goal from a counter-attack after Torres missed an opportunity for Barcelona. At the other end, Eljif Elmas created Piotr Zieliński to open on the 29th. Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen saved his first low attempt, but the Polish midfielder hit a rebound in the roof of the net.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his first start for Barcelona after moving from Arsenal, but Napoli’s well-organised defense was hampered.
In Dortmund, James Tavernier gave Rangers the lead by mistaking a penalty kick in the 38th minute after a video review confirmed that the ball hit Dan-Axel Zagado’s hand. Alfredo Morelos doubled the difference for the visitors after just three minutes.
Dortmund improved in the second half but Rangers were firmly responsible. John Lundstram’s long ball extended the lead to 3-0 before giving England midfielder Judd Bellingham some hope for the hosts.
This appears to have been put down after Zagado netted an own goal, although Rafael Guerrero’s long-range shot eight minutes from the end meant Dortmund still had a chance.
Dortmund midfielder Gio Reina came on as a substitute after the end of the first half to play only the second match since his return from a five-month absence due to a hamstring injury.
The 19-year-old Reina was named after Giovanni van Bronckhorst, current Rangers coach and teammate of his father, Claudio Reina, at the Scottish club from 1999-2001.
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