Europa League: Four teams gain first-leg advantages

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) – Four teams gained advantages in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals first-leg matches played Thursday ahead of second-leg matches next week.

Arsenal met Italy's Napoli in London, where a goal by Aaron Ramsey gave the English club an early lead in the 15th minute and Lucas Torreira's deflected strike made it 2-0 in the first half. The game ended with that score.

Spanish clubs Villarreal and Valencia also faced off. Both teams scored their first goals from penalty shots. The first half ended 1-1. Valencia scored their second and third goals in extra time to end the game 1-3.

Meanwhile, Portuguese club Benfica beat Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 as 19-year-old forward Joao Felix converted a penalty kick in the 21st minute, net a second goal in the 43rd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute.

Czech team Slavia Prague took on Chelsea, with the English club scoring in the 86th minute with Marcos Alonso's header.

The second-leg matches will be played on April 18.

The results of quarterfinal first-leg matches are as follows:

Arsenal (ENG) v Napoli (ITA): 2-0

Villarreal (ESP) v Valencia (ESP): 1-3

Benfica (POR) v Eintracht Frankfurt (GER): 4-2

Slavia Praha (CZE) v Chelsea (ENG): 0-1