Napoli put one foot in semis, Sevilla edge Zenit
Rafael Benitez's Napoli all but booked their place in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals with a stunning 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany on Thursday night.
Gonzalo Higuain scored the first before Marek Hamsik helped himself to a brace in the first leg of this last-eight clash. Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini piled on the misery as the visitors inflicted a first home defeat on their opponents since they lost to Everton in November. Nicklas Bendtner grabbed a late consolation for the hosts, but they looked a completely different side to the one which brushed aside Inter Milan in the last round.
A glorious late strike from Denis Suarez helped defending champions Sevilla come from behind to beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 in Spain. The on-loan Barcelona forward was leaning back as he stretched to reach fellow substitute Stephane Mbia's cross, but the resulting volley had a wicked loop on it to beat the goalkeeper in the 88th minute. Fifteen minutes earlier, Carlos Bacca had headed Sevilla level, with Alexander Ryazantsev having put Zenit ahead after half an hour.
Substitute Khouma Babacar's goal in stoppage-time gave Fiorentina a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal against Dynamo Kiev. The Italian side had started the game strongly, but were stung by Jeremain Lens' deflected opener before half-time and looked to have faded in the second half - until the 92nd minute, when Babacar's intervention dramatically altered the momentum of the tie.
In the remaining quarter-final tie, Club Brugge were held to a goalless draw at home against Dnipro. Brugge striker Jose Izquierdo failed to convert a one-on-chance chance against Dnipro keeper Denys Boyko in the first half, while Brugge stopper Matt Ryan saved acrobatically from Yevhen Konoplyanka late on.