Four teams gained advantages in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals first-leg matches played Thursday ahead of second-leg matches next week.
Arsenal met Italy’s Napoli in London, where a goal by Aaron Ramsey gave the English club an early lead in the 15th minute and Lucas Torreira’s deflected strike made it 2-0 in the first half. The game ended with that score.
Spanish clubs Villarreal and Valencia also faced off. Both teams scored their first goals from penalty shots. The first half ended 1-1. Valencia scored their second and third goals in extra time to end the game 1-3.
Meanwhile, Portuguese club Benfica beat Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 as 19-year-old forward Joao Felix converted a penalty kick in the 21st minute, net a second goal in the 43rd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute.
Czech team Slavia Prague took on Chelsea, with the English club scoring in the 86th minute with Marcos Alonso’s header.
The second-leg matches will be played on April 18.
The results of quarterfinal first-leg matches are as follows:
Arsenal (ENG) v Napoli (ITA): 2-0
Villarreal (ESP) v Valencia (ESP): 1-3
Benfica (POR) v Eintracht Frankfurt (GER): 4-2
Slavia Praha (CZE) v Chelsea (ENG): 0-1
BY ANADOLU AGENCY
