Villa hat-trick proves crucial for Valencia

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE:FULHAM and Liverpool join six others in today's Europa League quarter-final draw (in Nyon at noon, live on Eurosport and Sky Sports News).

In a thrilling match last night, David Villa scored a hat-trick as Valencia advanced on away goals after a 4-4 draw with Werder Bremen. Valencia grabbed the lead after two minutes through Villa and Juan Manuel Mata made it 2-0 with 15 minutes gone.

Hugo Almeida pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 26th minute before Villa grabbed his second just before the interval.

Torsten Frings scored from the penalty spot in the 57th minute and Marko Marin made it 3-3 just five minutes later, but Villa completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute and Claudio Pizarro’s strike six minutes from time was not enough for the home side.

Meanwhile, Alan Kardec struck in injury-time as Benfica edged out Marseille 2-1 – and 3-2 on aggregate.

All the goals at the Stade Velodrome came in the final 20 minutes, Mamadou Niang blasting Marseille into the lead before Maxi Pereira, a goalscorer in the first leg, repeated the feat from long range with the aid of a deflection off Benoit Cheyrou.

The game went into stoppage time still level, but, with extra time looming, Kardec fired home from Pablo Aimar’s free-kick to seal victory and Marseille then had Hatem Ben Arfa sent off.

Standard Liege, 3-1 up from the first leg, completed victory over Panathinaikos in routine fashion thanks to Dieudonne Mbokani’s goal in first-half stoppage time.

The striker flicked a bouncing ball over his marker before firing fiercely past goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas to put his side’s place in today’s draw beyond doubt.

And, in Lisbon, Sergio Aguero struck twice as Atletico Madrid progressed with an away-goals triumph over Sporting Lisbon.

All four goals in last night’s second leg at the Estadio Jose Alvalade came in the first half, with Aguero twice putting Atletico ahead and Sporting hitting back through efforts from Liedson and Anderson Polga.

Neither side could force a winner in the second half, leaving Atletico as the victorious team and still on course for a cup double having also reached the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey.

Anderlecht defeated Hamburg SV 4-3 in Brussels last night, but lost 6-5 on aggregate.