Athletic Bilbao kept up their push for Europa League glory as two goals from Fernando Llorente helped them to a 4-2 win at Schalke in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.
GettyImagesFernando Llorente slots home an away goal
Llorente pounced on an error from goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand to stab home the opener and give the Spanish side a vital away goal, but within 31 seconds Raul had arrived at the near post to net the leveller from Atsuto Uchida's cross.
The Spaniard should have gone in the book shortly before half-time when he dived to try and win a penalty, but after an hour he redeemed himself with a stunning volley from outside the area to put his side ahead.
However, Llorente was not done and headed Athletic's equaliser from the near post before Oscar de Marcos made it 3-2 as the ball was palmed into his path by substitute goalkeeper Matthias Schober after a shot from Susaeta.
Klass-Jan Huntelaar hammered a post late on and Raul was denied by Schober, but the German side could find no way back and Iker Muniain slotted home the fourth with the final kick of the game to make them firm favourites.
More to follow...
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