Atletico Madrid claim Europa League quarter finals

By Mutlu Demirtastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Atletico Madrid from Spain claimed a ticket for the UEFA Europa League quarter finals after beating Russian opponents Lokomotiv Moscow 5-1 in Europa League Round of 16 second leg on Thursday evening.

Hosted by Lokomotiv Moscow, Atletico Madrid took the lead in the 16th minute of the match as Angel Correa found the net.

Home team Lokomotiv Moscow equalized the level in the 20th minute when Maciej Rybus put the ball into the Atletico net. The first half ended 1-1.

Atletico then scored an early goal in the second half as midfielder Saul Niguez made it 2-1.

The Spanish club's 33-year-old veteran striker Fernando Torres scored twice in the 65th and 70th minutes. Atletico Madrid's French star Antoine Griezmann's late goal sealed the result of the match at 5-1.

So title contenders Atletico Madrid booked their place in the Europa League quarter finals. The Spanish previously won the first leg 3-0 in Madrid.

Atletico won the Europa League titles in 2010 and 2012.

- Marseille, Lazio, Leipzig proceeding their ways

In addition to Atletico, French club Olympique Marseille, Italy's Lazio and German team Leipzig went to the last eight in the competition.

Olympique Marseille won against Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in Spain, Dimitri Payet and Lucas Ocampos were the scorers for the French club. Athletic Bilbao's only goal was scored by Inaki Williams. Marseille previously won the first leg 3-1 in France.

Lazio cruised past Ukrainian Dinamo Kiev 2-0 in the second leg and qualified for the quarter finals in the Europa League.

Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva and defender Stefan de Vrij put the ball into Dinamo Kiev net. The first leg in Rome ended 2-2.

Meanwhile Leipzig eliminated Russian heavyweights Zenit from Europa League. Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin scored the opener in 22nd minute but Zenit striker Sebastian Driussi replied back in first half's injury time.

The game in Russia ended 1-1 as none of the teams managed to score in the second half.

Leipzig went through the quarter finals phase as they previously won the first leg 2-1 in Germany on March 8.

- Arsenal knocked Milan out of the Europa League

English team Arsenal beat Italy's Milan 3-1 in second leg. London giants went to the last eight in Europa League.

Thursday's winners Arsenal previously won the first leg 2-0 in Milan.

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck put the ball into the Milan net twice, his teammate Granit Xhaka scored the third goal of the London side against Milan in the showdown at Arsenal Stadium.

Visitors Milan's goal was scored by Turkish attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

Atletico Madrid, Olympique Marseille, Lazio, Leipzig, Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal, CSKA Moscow and Salzburg qualified for Europa League quarter finals.

Quarter final draws will be held on Friday, March 16 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

- Last 16 second leg results are as follows:

Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia) - Atletico Madrid (Spain): 1-5

Plzen (Czech Rep.) - Sporting Lisbon (Portugal): 2-1

Athletic Bilbao (Spain) - Olympique Marseille (France): 1-2

Zenit (Russia) - Leipzig (Germany): 1-1

Dinamo Kiev (Ukraine) - Lazio (Italy): 0-2

Arsenal (England) - Milan (Italy): 3-1

Salzburg (Austria) - Borussia Dortmund (Germany): 0-0

Olympique Lyon (France) - CSKA Moscow (Russia): 2-3