Atletico Madrid thrashed fellow Spanish club Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Wednesday to take home the coveted Europa League trophy for the second time in three seasons.
An Atletico Madrid 1-0 victory over Valencia for a 5-2 aggregate win and a 3-1 Athletic Bilbao conquest over Sporting Lisbon in the semi-final second leg for a 4-3 aggregate on Thursday have set the stage for an all-Spanish May 9 final in Bucharest.
Spain enjoyed a triple triumph Thursday in the Europa League. Athletic Bilbao as drew 2-2 to Germany's Schalke 04 to qualify for the semi finals; Valencia trounced AZ Alkmaar, and Atletico Madrid triumphed over Hanover 96.
Manchester United dismissed any notion they might take the Europa League lightly as they brushed aside Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam on Wednesday, while Premier League rivals City secured a 2-1 win against defending champions Porto.
Finnish minnows HJK Helsinki beat Champions League semi-finalists Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier. Elsewhere, France’s Sochaux tied with Kharkov, Rennes beat Belgrade 2-1, and PSG thrashed Differdange 4-0.
Colombian striker Falcao (pictured) scored the only goal in the all-Portuguese final of the Europa League on Wednesday, handing champions Porto their second trophy of the season.
Sporting Braga denied Benfica a Europa League clash with traditional rivals Porto on Thursday, defeating the Lisbon side 1-0 to reach their first ever European final.
Portuguese leader FC Porto crushed Villareal 5-1 on Thursday and is looking to validate their ticket to the Europa League final. Elsewhere, in an all-Portuguese affair, Benfica won 2-1 against Braga.
Spanish side Villareal will be the only non-Portuguese to compete for a ticket to the Europa League final on Thursday as they meet FC Porto in the semis. Elsewhere, Benfica will host Braga to compensate for a frustrating season.
