Europa League round-up: Sevilla stay on course to retain title

Posted Friday, April 15, 2016 by theguardian

Europa League round-up: Sevilla stay on course to retain title
Sevilla’s Kevin Gameiro, centre, celebrates after his penalty took his side into the Europa League semi-finals at the expense of Athletic Bilbao.

Sevilla’s quest for a third successive Europa League title remains on course after they beat Athletic Bilbao on penalties at the end of a game in which all the considerable drama came after half-time, with Kevin Gameiro scoring his side’s only goal before also converting the decisive spot-kick.

Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund: five Europa League talking points

Aritz Aduriz opened the scoring in the 57th minute, after a goalkeeping error from David Soria, only for Gameiro to turn in Grzegorz Krychowiak’s low cross within seconds. Raúl García put the visitors ahead for a second time, and brought the teams level on aggregate, when he headed in Beñat Etxebarria’s cross with 10 minutes to play, and though Coke had a shot cleared off the line in extra time neither side could prevent the tie going to penalties.

In the shootout Soria atoned for his earlier mistake by saving from Etxebarria, and Gameiro, limping after a late injury and ignoring fighting that broke out among the rival players during it, sent the decisive penalty in off the underside of the bar to send Sevilla through.

Only Real Madrid, between 1984 and 1986, and Sevilla themselves between 2005 and 2007 have won the Uefa Cup or the Europa League twice in succession, and Sevilla are attempting to become the first to hold the trophy for three successive years.

In addition to Liverpool they will be joined in the semi-finals by Shakhtar Donetsk and Villarreal, both of whom followed narrow first-leg wins with more emphatic successes in the return. Shakhtar beat Braga 4-0, with Darijo Srna scoring one and creating two, to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory, while Villarreal stormed to a 4-0 half-time lead – and a 6-1 aggregate advantage – against Sparta Prague, who scored two consolation goals in the second half.