Europa League: Athletic Bilbao earn victory over Schalke

2 goals from Fernando Llorente and in addition specific every from Oscar de Marcos and in addition Iker Muniain attained Bilbao a Europa League quarter-final first-leg win at Schalke.

Raul earlier gave Schalke a 2-1 lead alongside his double, prior to the particular Spanish side fought back to be able to earn victory.
Elsewhere, AZ Alkmaar surprised Valencia with a 2-1 victory, whilst Sporting Lisbon saw off Metalist 2-1.
And also Atletico Madrid replace Eduardo Salvio scored within the closing stages in order to earn a 2-1 victory over Hannover 96.

Europa League quarter-final first-leg results

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Hannover 96
AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Valencia
Schalke 2-4 Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Metalist Kharkiv

Bilbao's victory inside Germany gives them a vital advantage heading into the actual 2nd leg on 5 April. Llorente had provided the particular visitors a 20th-minute lead before previous Actual Madrid striker Raul equalised couple minutes later on.

Raul had given Schalke the entire lead found on the hr alongside a great left-foot volley but yet Spain international Llorente showed precisely why he typically is so highly rated across Europe with a headed equaliser within the 73rd minute.
Bilbao took control of the tie alongside eight moments remaining right after De Marcos converted from close range and Muniain sealed the entire victory with a fine complete into the rooftop associated with the web from the edge of the entire community.
Alkmaar caused the particular biggest shock associated with the night alongside their 2-1 victory over Valencia. Aston Villa-bound striker Brett Holman gave the particular Dutch side a first-half lead alongside a volley straight from a corner before Mehmet Topal equalised within the 51st minute.
As well as alongside 11 minutes staying Maarten Martens created it 2-1 to be able to the actual hosts, side-footing Holman's cutback from six yards out in order to earn Alkmaar victory.

Fernando Llorente

Age: 27
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Spain caps: 20
Position: Forward
Goals this season: 25 (six with regard to Europe)

Sporting Lisbon's win against Ukrainian side Metalist was actually more simple even though the actual Portuguese side had been built to function hard late on after conceding a 91st-minute penalty that Cleiton Xavier converted.

Earlier, Marat Izmailov's strike and even Emiliano Insua's free-kick had provided them a 2-0 lead.
Atletico Madrid needed a 89th-minute goal to seal victory over Hannover 96 with replace Salvio curling a shot from the edge associated with the area into the entire top corner associated with the net to grant them a first-leg benefit.
Before Salvio's winner, Falcao headed inside his seventh Europa League objective of the season prior to Hannover 96 equalised through previous Manchester United striker Mame Diouf.