Three Spanish teams in Europa League semi-finals underscore dominance
Spanish clubs continued their impressive run in European competition this season when Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid and Valencia reached the Europa League semi-finals alongside Sporting Lisbon.
Bilbao came back twice to end Schalke's hopes with a 2-2 draw that put them through 6-4 on aggregate, Valencia routed AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to go through 5-2, and Atlético won 2-1 at Hannover to secure a 4-2 aggregate after two legs. Sporting completed the Iberian peninsula's tremendous night when they drew 1-1 at Metalist Kharkiv to go through 3-2.
Sporting play Bilbao and Atlético face Valencia as Spanish clubs repeated their feat of 2007, when three also reached the semi-finals. Barcelona and Real Madrid reached the Champions League semi-finals this week.
Bilbao, who eliminated Manchester United, completed their passage to their first European semi-final since they lost in the 1977 Uefa Cup to Juventus. Schalke looked keen to pull off an upset at San Mamés Stadium as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar drove a shot beyond the goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz to give the visitors a 28th-minute lead with his tournament-leading 10th goal.
Marcelo Bielsa's decision to replace Ander Herrera with Ibai Gómez right after the goal soon paid off. Gómez cut inside from the left to curl in a shot from outside the area for a 41st-minute equaliser.
With the rain pouring down, Raul put the German side ahead in the 52nd minute, but three minutes later Bilbao levelled again as Iker Muniain played in Susaeta to score with a low shot.
Athletic Bilbao will not have their defender Javi Martínez available for the 19 April first leg at Sporting after the Spain international was booked in the second half.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel headed Sporting in front in the 44th minute but the Ukrainian side equalised in the 57th when Jonathan Cristaldo cut inside to beat Rui Patrício with a powerful shot.
Adrián López put the 2010 champions Atlético on course for the last four with one of the goals of the season against Hannover. López held off Emanuel Pogatetz's challenge to gather Diego's pass inside the area, before skirting around five challenges and firing past Pogatetz. He was covering for the goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler who was flat on the floor after twice being unable to stop López.
Mame Biram Diouf rolled home an 81st-minute equaliser for the German side, but the Atlético striker Radamel Falcao controlled the ball on his chest to volley home in the 87th minute.
Valencia scored four goals at its Mestalla Stadium for the second Europa League match in a row. The home side were leading 2-0 by the 17th minute after the defender Adil Rami scored twice inside three minutes, and Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernández added second-half goals.