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- Nico Williams inspires fightback as Athletic join Frankfurt in Europa League quarter-finals
Nico Williams inspires fightback as Athletic join Frankfurt in Europa League quarter-finals
Nico Williams played a starring role for Athletic Bilbao as former winners Eintracht Frankfurt roared into the Europa League quarter-finals.
Nico Williams scored twice as Athletic Bilbao came from behind to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 4-3 aggregate victory over 10-man Roma.
Yuri Berchiche was also on target for Ernesto Valverde's side, who were 3-1 winners in the second leg at San Mames, where Leandro Paredes' stoppage-time penalty was a consolation for the Giallorossi.
Roma had progressed from each of their previous nine European knockout ties when winning the first leg.
However, their hopes of extending that streak to 10 on Thursday were dealt a huge blow in the 11th minute, when last man Mats Hummels was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Maroan Sannadi.
Athletic capitalised on their numerical advantage to level the tie through Williams' deflected strike in first-half stoppage time.
Yuri completed the turnaround with a powerful header in the 68th minute, before turning provider for Williams to grab his second courtesy of a fine individual effort eight minutes from time.
Roma did pull a goal back from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute as Paredes tucked away after Andoni Gorosabel fouled Stephan El Shaarawy, but it was not enough to prevent Claudio Ranieri's side from bowing out of the competition.
Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt completed a dominant 6-2 aggregate victory over Ajax, following a 4-1 win at Deutsche Bank Park.
First-half goals from Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Mario Gotze put the 2022 Europa League winners well in control of the tie, while Hugo Ekitike extended their advantage when he curled home in the 67th minute.
Kenneth Taylor pulled one back with Ajax's 100th goal in the Europa League proper, but Gotze had the final word when he lifted the ball into an empty net eight minutes from time.
Bodo/Glimt are through to the Europa League quarter-finals for the first time, after seeing off last season's Conference League winners Olympiacos 4-2 on aggregate.
The Norwegian side were 3-0 to the good from the first leg, and Kasper Hogh extended their advantage in the 36th minute at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
Half-time substitute Roman Yaremchuk gave the hosts hope with two goals either side of Rodonei's failed penalty, with Nikita Haikin denying the Brazilian from 12 yards.
However, those hopes of a remarkable fightback were extinguished two minutes from time when goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was shown a straight red card after bringing down Andreas Helmersen.
Bodo/Glimt's reward is a showdown with Lazio, who edged out Viktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at Stadio Olimpico.
After a goalless first half, Pavel Sulc levelled the tie within seven minutes of the restart, with the midfielder curling a shot beyond Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
However, Marco Baroni's side were not to be denied, as Alessio Romagnoli's 77th-minute header secured their place in a first Europa League quarter-final for seven years.