Madrid: Spanish clubs continued their impressive run in European play this season as Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Valencia reached the Europa League semi-finals alongside Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
Bilbao twice rallied to squash Schalke's hopes with a 2-2 draw that put them through 6-4 on aggregate, Valencia routed AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to easily go through 5-2, and Adrian Lopez scored one of the season's most memorable goals as Atletico won 2-1 at Hannover to secure a 4-2 tally after two legs. Sporting completed the Iberian peninsula's tremendous night as they drew 1-1 at Metalist Kharkiv to go through 3-2.
Sporting play Bilbao and Atletico face Valencia as three Spanish clubs reached the semi-finals after having done so in 2007.
Spanish clubs may owe nearly €800 million (more than $1 billion) in unpaid taxes, but they have excelled on the football field this season as the Europa League hopefuls followed up Barcelona's and Real Madrid's progression into the Champions League semi-finals this week.
Bilbao eliminated Manchester United before completing their passage to their first semi-final since they lost the 1977 UEFA Cup to Juventus with their unrelenting brand of attacking football.
"We're on the way," Markel Susaeta said when asked if it was setting up to be a historic season for Athletic. "We're in the (Spanish) cup final, now in the semis, so it's been a good season so far."
Schalke looked keen to pull off an upset at San Mames Stadium, as Ander Herrera turned it over to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to step up and drive a shot beyond goalkeeper Gorka Iraizon to give the visitors a 28th-minute lead with his tournament-leading 10th goal.
Schalke's pressure paid off early as Bilbao failed to show their usual verve, although coach Marcelo Bielsa's decision to replace Herrera with Ibai Gomez right after the goal soon paid off. Gomez cut inside from the left to curl a perfect shot from outside the area around 'keeper Lars Unnerstall for a 41st-minute equalizer.
With the rain coming down, Raul Gonzalez scored his third goal of the series to put the German side ahead again in the 52nd. But, three minutes later, Athletic leveled again as Iker Muniain played Susaeta into the right side of the area to beat Unnerstall with a low shot.
"It was a great series of football between two teams who gave it their all," Raul said. "We knew we had to score at least three goals and we tried."
Athletic will not have defender Javi Martinez available for the April 19 first leg at Sporting after the Spain international was booked in the second half.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel headed Sporting into a comfortable position in the 44th, but the Ukrainian side equalized in the 57th through Jonathan Cristaldo cutting inside to beat Rui Patricio with a powerful shot. Metalist could have evened the series in the 64th, but Rui Patricio saved Cleiton Xavier's penalty to dash the host's hopes.
In Hannover, Lopez put 2010 champions Atletico on course to the final four with one of the best goals of the season from an individual effort normally seen by the likes of world player of the year Lionel Messi. Lopez held off Emanuel Pogatet's challenge to gather Diego's pass inside the area in the 63rd, the Spanish striker skirting around five challenges before calmly firing past Pogatet, who was covering with goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler laid out flat after twice being unable to catch Lopez.
Mame Biram Diouf provided a nervy ending after rolling home an 81st-minute equalizer for the German side, but Atletico striker Radamel Falcao controlled with his chest to volley his eighth goal past Zieler into the top corner in the 87th.
"There are few words available to say about Falcao and Adrian. They are players without limits," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Atletico welcome Valencia to open their match-up after they scored four goals at their Mestalla Stadium for the second straight Europa League match. Valencia were leading 2-0 by the 17th after defender Adil Rami scored twice inside three minutes, and Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernandez added second-half goals to complete the easy win.
"The more Spanish teams there are in the semi-finals, the better," Raul added.
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