Bilbao in the box seat after battling win over Schalke

Fernando Llorente scored twice as Bilbao came from behind to grab their crucial advantage, which they boosted in injury time when Iker Muniain scored his side’s fourth.

Llorente put the visitors ahead on 20 minutes at the Veltins-Arena but Schalke hit back with two goals from Raul either side of the break, the former Real Madrid striker’s second a fantastic left-foot volley, to nudge the German side in front.

But Bilbao, without a win in three since seeing off Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in the previous round, responded through Llorente again. The Spain international showed why he is so highly rated across Europe with a headed equaliser in the 73rd minute. An 81st-minute goal from Oscar de Marcos put Bilbao in front again before Muniain added to their lead.

Substitute Eduardo Salvio struck in the 89th minute as Atletico Madrid claimed a potentially crucial 2-1 first-leg advantage in their quarter-final clash with Hannover in Spain.

The Germans looked to be heading home with a draw after Mame Biram Diouf equalised Radamel Falcao’s early strike, but Salvio let fly from 20 yards to leave his side in command.

But it was not all good news for the Primera Liga as former Uefa Cup winners Valencia were beaten 2-1 away by Dutch Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar.

Aston Villa-bound striker Brett Holman put the home side in front in first-half injury time with a volley straight from a corner and, although Mehmet Topal equalised in the 52nd minute, Maarten Martens hit what turned out to be AZ’s winner with 11 minutes left.

Sporting Lisbon beat Metalist Kharkiv 2-1 in Portugal but can expect a much tougher second leg after the Ukrainians gave themselves hope with an injury-time penalty.

Sporting were cruising through second-half goals from Marat Izmailov and Emiliano Insua. Izmailov scored from a cross from Diego Capel in the 51st minute and Insua extended the Portuguese club’s lead 13 minutes later with a low drive from a free-kick.

But Cleiton Xavier’s spot-kick deep into added time will give Metalist plenty of hope.