Xavi unhappy with pitch at Eintracht Frankfurt as Torres equaliser rescues Barcelona

Catalan club fight for draw in Europa League quarter-final first leg

Ansgar Knauff of Frankfurt celebrates with teammate Tuta after scoring the opening goal in the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona. EPA

Ansgar Knauff celebrates with teammates. AFP

Barca's Ferran Torres celebrates levelling at 1-1. EPA

Ferran Torres scores the equaliser. EPA

Gerard Pique of Barcelona comes off injured during the Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt. EPA

Barcelona had to dig deep as a second-half equaliser by Ferran Torres rescued the Catalans and earned a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Frankfurt saw Brazilian defender Tuta sent off for a second booking late on. But they had taken the lead when Ansgar Knauff hit the top corner with a curling long-range shot after half-time.

Barca got a reprieve when referee Srdjan Jovanovic reversed his decision to award a penalty when captain Sergio Busquets brought down Rafael Borre. However, the Spanish side fought back when Torres tapped in after combining with Frenkie de Jong in the 66th minute.

"To go behind but end up drawing might end up a very valuable result for the second leg," said Torres.

"Frankfurt were tough - they made things difficult. The main thing was that we were patient and the reward was that we got a good equaliser."

However, Barca manager Xavi was unhappy with the state of the pitch at the Waldstadion on Thursday and said his side struggled to perform on a "difficult" surface.

"They are physically strong, dangerous on the counter-attack, and they created [chances] but were not able to take advantage of them," Xavi said.

"It is a difficult pitch, a complicated pitch [to play on]. The grass was not in the best condition, and it made it difficult for us.

"I think the pitch will be better for the second leg. Today the ball did not move well. That is another reality and it cost us. You had to do one more touch and everything slowed down.

"Well, at the Camp Nou it will be different."

Barcelona could be without Gerard Pique for the return leg after the defender came off in the 22nd minute due to pain in his left thigh.

"Further tests will be required to determine the full extent of the problem, but it would appear to be a strained adductor muscle," a club statement said.