Sevilla boosted their hopes of retaining the UEFA Europa League title on Thursday after defeating La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at San Mames in the first leg of their quarter-final clash, collecting their fourth away win of the season in the process.
Meanwhile, Spanish peers Villarreal also impressed in their meeting with Sparta Prague, where they triumphed 2-1 at El Madrigal thanks to a brace from in-form forward Cedric Bakambu.
Premier League contenders Liverpool kept their European dream alive with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund, while Shakhtar Donetsk clinched an away win in the first-leg slate after beating Braga 2-1.