Spanish trio dominate to enter Europa semis

Three Spanish clubs showed the quality of La Liga extends beyond Barcelona and Real Madrid by cantering into the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday, where they were joined by Sporting Lisbon to complete an all-Iberian quartet.

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Spanish legend Raul may have won honours in his Real Madrid days - including a trio of Champions League titles - but he was unable to keep Germany's Schalke on the route to Europa League glory despite a goal at Athletic Bilbao.

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The veteran striker's best efforts could not prevent the conquerors of Manchester United reaching the semi-finals following a 2-2 second leg draw at the San Mames stadium, enough to send the Basque side through 6-4 on aggregate after their 4-2 success in Germany.

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Raul scored in both games but the damage had been done for the Royal Blues in the home leg and although Klaas-Jan Huntelaar put the visitors ahead early on with a low shot past Gorka Iraizoz a superlative strike by Ibai Gomez ensured that the Germans still had a mountain to climb.

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A 20-metre effort shortly after the restart from Raul gave the visitors, winners of the Europa League's forerunner the UEFA Cup in 1997, renewed though brief hope.

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But those hopes were dashed again just three minutes later when Iker Muniain found Markel Susaeta and he drove home past Lars Unnerstall in the Schalke goal to set up a tie with Sporting Lisbon, who drew 1-1 at Metalist Kharkhiv of Ukraine as the Portuguese advanced 3-2 on aggregate.

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Ricky Van Wolfswinkel headed in for the visitors just moments before the break before Argentinian striker Jonathan Cristaldo levelled for the Ukrainians.

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Just as Bilbao ended Schalke's dreams, so 2010 winners Atletico Madrid provided further grief to German fans in knocking out Hanover.

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Atletico already held a 2-1 lead from the first game in Madrid and produced an identical scoreline in the return.

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The Spaniards gave themselves breathing space as Adrian Lopez put them ahead after the interval after twisting and turning past three defenders before slotting home.

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Mame Diouf slid home the equaliser with nine minutes remaining but Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao - who won the tournament last year with Porto - drilled in the clincher for a 4-2 aggregate success in the dying minutes.

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Valencia added to Spanish delight by handing out a 4-0 drubbing to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to cast off the memory of a 2-1 first-leg reverse.

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Dutch resistance at the Mestalla Stadium lasted for barely quarter of an hour as Adil Rami made it 1-0 and then added a second within two minutes before Jordi Alba made it three on 56 minutes.

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Pablo Hernandez completed the rout in the 80th minute for the two-time Champions League finalists who won the 2004 UEFA Cup under Rafael Benitez and who now take on Atletico.

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