Athletic Bilbao secured a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Roma on Thursday, overturning a first-leg deficit to progress 4-3 on aggregate. Nico Williams was the hero for the Basque side, scoring twice in a dramatic night at San Mamés.
Roma’s hopes took an early blow when veteran defender Mats Hummels was sent off in the 11th minute for a last-man foul on Maroan Sannadi. Bilbao capitalised just before half-time, with Inaki Williams delivering a cross that found his brother Nico, whose shot took a crucial deflection off Ángelino to beat goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
Yuri Berchiche doubled the hosts’ lead with a powerful header in the 68th minute, before Nico Williams sealed the victory eight minutes from time. A late penalty from Leandro Paredes gave Roma a glimmer of hope, but Bilbao held on.
Elsewhere in the Europa League
Lazio edged past Viktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico. Pavel Sulc had briefly given Plzen hope, but Alessio Romagnoli’s header secured Lazio’s passage to the next round.
Eintracht Frankfurt cruised past Ajax with a 4-1 home win, completing a dominant 6-2 aggregate victory. Goals from Jean-Matteo Bahoya, Hugo Ekitike, and a brace from Mario Götze sealed the German side’s progress.
Elsewhere, Bodo/Glimt lost 2-1 to Olympiakos in Athens but advanced 4-2 on aggregate.
Later in the evening, Manchester United and Tottenham will need strong performances at home to overcome first-leg setbacks against Real Sociedad and AZ Alkmaar, respectively, while Chelsea take on Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League with a 2-1 advantage.
