• Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring during the 2-1 Europa League round of 16 second leg win against Galatasaray at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul. AFP
    Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring during the 2-1 Europa League round of 16 second leg win against Galatasaray at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul. AFP
  • Marcao of Galatasaray celebrates after scoring the opening goal. EPA
    Marcao of Galatasaray celebrates after scoring the opening goal. EPA
  • Pedri levels for Barcelona. Reuters
    Pedri levels for Barcelona. Reuters
  • Pedri celebrates with teammates after levelling. EPA
    Pedri celebrates with teammates after levelling. EPA
  • Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, celebrates with teammate Pedri after scoring his side's second goal. AP
    Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, celebrates with teammate Pedri after scoring his side's second goal. AP
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates. Reuters
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates. Reuters

Barcelona battle back to make Europa League quarter-finals


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Barcelona battled back to win 2-1 at Galatasaray and advance to the Europa League quarter-finals.

Brazilian defender Marcao gave the Turkish side the lead in the 28th minute with a diving header from a corner, after the first leg finished goalless.

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

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.

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.

Barcelona will now turn their attentions to this weekend's clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We played a match of huge personality," said Barca coach Xavi Hernandez. "It was a great performance to fight back on a ground like this against a very good team.

"They knew how to defend against us but we were patient. I'm very happy for my players."

Updated: March 17, 2022, 8:38 PM