News
JUE 17.03.2016
Valencia CF 2-1 Athletic Club
The two LaLiga teams put on a great spectacle at Mestalla stadium. It was Valencia who had it all to do after Athletic’s 1-0 victory in the first leg, and Gary Neville’s side produced an intense first half as they went in search of their objective.
The game started brightly for the home team, who took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal by Santi Mina after Iago Herrerin could only parry. The Valencians’ hunger did not abate and they managed to double their advantage thanks to an Aderlan Santos header, a lead which they managed to defend until the 75th minute. That was when Aritz Aduriz popped up to make the most of a backheel pass by Raul Garcia and secure Athletic a place in the quarter-finals.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0-0 Villarreal CF
Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men made good on their 2-0 victory at El Madrigal. Villarreal looked like a solid outfit in Leverkusen, where the home team failed to trouble the goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who was making his first start since returning from a serious knee injury.
The Spanish keeper did not have much work to do, but produced a brilliant save to deny the German team their clearest effort. He was left one-on-one against Chicharito Hernandez and came out on top.
Sevilla FC 3-0 FC Basel 1893
Sevilla needed to win at home after the goalless draw in the first leg and they did not falter. Unai Emery’s team came out like a whirlwind in the first half, scoring three goals in the opening 45 minutes. Adil Rami opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a thumping header from a corner, but the real hero of the match was Kevin Gameiro.
The French striker pulled off a quick-fire brace, scoring on 44 and 45 minutes to send the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan crowd wild. His two goals put his team 3-0 up and Basel were unable to respond.
© LALIGA - 2016