Sevilla and Villarreal edge ahead in their Europa League quarter-finals

Athletic Club 1-2 Sevilla FC

There was a cracking atmosphere despite the torrential rain at San Mames. Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half but neither team were to make a break-through until early in the second half. Iker Muniain’s teasing cross found Aritz Aduriz at the back post and he stooped to head home his ninth of the campaign to put the hosts ahead in the 48th.

Soon after, however, Sevilla's Ever Banega pounced on a poor back header to his keeper from Muniain and the Argentine laid the ball off for Kolodziejczak to lift a shot into the empty net. The winner came seven minutes from time when Kevin Gameiro slid a ball into the area and Vicente Iborra turned it past Iago Herrerin to earn the Europa League holders a first road win of the campaign. Sevilla hold the edge going into the return leg at the fortress Sanchez Pizjuan next Thursday.

Gooooooooooooal for #SevillaFC, goooooooal by @Iborra_Vicente on 83' #comeonsevilla #UEL pic.twitter.com/r8Rv9YmWtK

— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) April 7, 2016

Villarreal CF 2-1 Sparta Prague

Villarreal grabbed an early lead at the Madrigal when Cedric Bakambu charged down a goalkeeper’s clearance after only four minutes. Marcelino’s men always looked the more likely to add to the scoreline but they were caught out just before the break when Jakub Brabec headed in from a corner.

The Yellow Submarine restored their advantage in the second half when Denis Suarez laid the ball off to Bakambu and the side’s leading scorer curled in a great shot from the edge of the area, taking his tally in Europe to seven this season. But Marcelino's side failed to make more of the chances they created and head to Prague next week with a narrow advantage.