Manchester European misery

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United, City suffer contrasting Europa League exits in last 16

PARIS: Manchester United and Manchester City crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday, as the English Premier League was muscled into the shadows by Spain, who boast three teams in the quarter-finals.

United were beaten 2-1 by Athletic Bilbao, the Spanish side reaching their first European quarter-final for 35 years after a 5-3 aggregate victory.

City, meanwhile, battled back from 2-0 down on the night, and 3-0 in arrears on aggregate, to Sporting Lisbon to win their last 16 second-leg match 3-2, but the Portuguese side went through on the away goals rule.

United and City’s double blow left Chelsea, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, as England’s only remaining representative in Europe this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, 3-2 down from the first leg at Old Trafford, fell to a stunning volley from Fernando Llorente and a second-half strike by Oscar de Marcos in Bilbao.

United replied with a fine goal from Wayne Rooney in the 80th minute, but the visitors could not find the two goals they needed to take the game to extra time.

“We can’t complain,” said Ferguson. “In the first half we let in a very soft goal, which was the last thing we wanted. I can’t believe we lost a goal like that.

“There are lessons to learn in every match. It’s disappointment, more than anything, that we didn’t play our best in the Champions League and now we’re out of the Europa League.”

Bilbao, currently seventh in La Liga, will learn their quarter-final opponents in Friday’s draw in Nyon.

“It was a wonderful match,” said Spanish international Llorente.

“I don’t know if it’s my greatest moment with the club. But it’s the first time that we’ve gone past the last 16 in the Europa League, and that’s incredible.”

At Eastlands, City came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on the night, with the last-16 tie ending 3-3 on aggregate, but went out on away goals.

City had lost the first leg 1-0 in Portugal and Sporting went 2-0 ahead on the night with Matias Fernandez and Ricky van Wolfswinkel both on target before the interval.

Roberto Mancini’s side roared back in the second half as Sergio Aguero (2) and Mario Balotelli, from the penalty spot, gave hope of completing a dramatic recovery.

But they were unable to find another goal as Sporting held on.

“We left them too much space on the counter-attack, didn’t play as a team. We expected the counter-attack and didn’t do a good job in the first half. We could have scored the fourth after scoring three,” said Mancini.

“I might have made mistakes, I’m sorry for the supporters.”

Valencia joined Bilbao in the quarter-finals after a 1-1 stalemate with PSV Eindhoven gave them a 5-3 aggregate win.

The Spaniards, the 2004 champions, took a 4-2 first leg lead to PSV and increased their advantage when Adil Rami, who was later red-carded, gave them a 47th-minute lead.

Ola Toivonen grabbed a 64th-minute consolation for PSV.

Dutch league leaders AZ Alkmaar lost 2-1 in Italy to Udinese but progressed 3-2 on aggregate. — AFP