Torres double lifts Atletico
Fernando Torres scored twice as Atletico Madrid marched into the quarterfinals of the Europa League by thrashing Lokomotiv Moscow 5-1 Thursday.
Marseille progressed after a 21 second-leg victory at Athletic Bilbao that was marred by crowd trouble. Lazio advanced with a 2-0 win at Dinamo Kiev while Leipzig drew 1-1 at Zenit to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Viktoria Plzen beat Sporting 21 after extra time but it was not enough to prevent the visiting team reaching the last eight 3-2 on aggregate.
The remaining three games, including Arsenal vs. AC Milan, are scheduled for later Thursday. The quarterfinal draw will be held Friday.
TORRES ON TARGET
Torres’ two goals for Atletico came in the second half against Lokomotiv.
He converted a penalty in the 65th minute after substitute Antoine Griezmann was fouled by goalkeeper Anton Kochenkov before adding his second with a low right-foot shot five minutes later.
Angel Correa, Saul Niguez and substitute Antoine Griezmann were also on target for Atletico. Maciej Rybus scored for host Lokomotiv.
Atletico, winner of the competition in 2010 and 2012, advanced 8-1 on aggregate.
OTHER GAMES
Lucas gave Lazio a 23rdminute lead in Kiev when he headed in a corner from Luis Alberto and Stefan de Vrij completed a 4-2 aggregate win with seven minutes to go.
Leipzig took control at Zenit as Jean-Kevin Augustin’s low shot gave them a 22nd-minute lead.
Sebastian Driussi leveled by volleying home a cross from Domenico Criscito in first-half stoppage time. Timo Werner then missed a penalty for Leipzig but the German team still went through 3-2 on aggregate. Europa League Lokomotiv Moscow-Atl. Madrid . . . . 1-5 Ath Bilbao-Marseille . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Dyn. Kyiv-Lazio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2 Plzen-Sporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 – 1 AET Zenit Petersburg-RB Liepzig . . . . . . . 1-1 Arsenal-AC Milan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Lyon-CSKA Moscow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Salzburg-Dortmund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-0