MADRID: New signing Ferran Torres scored a penalty as Barcelona rescued a draw in their Europa League last-32 first-leg tie against Napoli at Nou Camp in the clash between the late Diego Maradona’s biggest clubs.

Making their first appearance in this competition in almost 18 years, the Spanish giants fell behind in the first half when Piotr Zielinski drove in.

But Barcelona were awarded a penalty in the second half by VAR after Adama Traore’s cross hit Juan Jesus’ hand. Torres stepped up to send goalkeeper Alex Meret the wrong way.

The goal will have been of significant relief for the former Manchester City striker after he had missed a big chance when the game was goalless, firing over when well placed inside the box.

However, he also had a good opportunity to win the game for Barcelona late on, but again sent his shot over the bar.

Ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a quiet game as he made his first start for Barcelona and his first competitive start since 2 December.

Xavi’s side, who are in the Europa League after failing to get out of their group in the Champions League, were the better side after Torres’ 59th-minute equaliser but could not find a winner despite their late pressure,

The two sides will meet again in Italy for the second leg next Thursday.

Rangers produced an outstanding European performances with a stunning 4-2 Europa League knockout round play-off first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund in the Westfalenstadion.

Captain James Tavernier scored a VAR-awarded penalty for handball in the 38th minute before striker Alfredo Morelos knocked in the second three minutes later.

There were only 10,000 fans inside the ground due to local Covid-19 restrictions and the 9,500 home supporters could barely believe what they were witnessing as Light Blues midfielder John Lundstram guided in a third after 49 minutes, only for England’s teenage international Jude Bellingham to pull a goal back for the German giants a minute later.

Morelos’s drive from 12 yards was helped in by home defender Dan-Axel Zagadou – who conceded the penalty – to stretch the Scottish champions’ lead again before Raphael Guerreiro’s 82nd minute counter made it 4-2, which leaves Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s men with the advantage going into the return game at Ibrox next Thursday.

Leicester are on track for the Europa Conference League last 16 after beating Danish outfit Randers 4-1 at the King Power Stadium in the first leg of their play-off tie.

The Foxes, playing in this competition after finishing third in their Europa League group, took the lead through a 23rd-minute Wilfred Ndidi effort before the visitors sprung a surprise by equalising in the 45th minute via captain Vito Hammershoy-Mistrati.

Harvey Barnes put Brendan Rodgers’ men back in front four minutes after the break, and Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added finishes in the 55th and 74th minutes respectively.

A worry towards the conclusion of what proved a comfortable victory in the end – halting a run of five games without a win in all competitions – was seeing substitute James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu having to come off due to injury.

Celtic’s hopes of a European run suffered a major blow with a 3-1 home defeat against Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt.

The visitors’ league season does not kick off until April but it was Celtic who looked out of sorts in the first leg of the Europa Conference League knockout round play-off.

Goals early in each half from Runar Espejord and Amahl Pellegrino put the visitors in command and Celtic conceded two minutes after Daizen Maeda had headed a 79th-minute lifeline.

Hugo Vetlesen’s deflected effort gives Celtic a mountain to climb when they head to the Arctic Circle next week.

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