UEFA Europa League QF matches showed no surprise

The first leg matches of UEFA Europa League quarter finals stage were completed Thursday night. The favorites of the round, Benfica, Juventus, Basel and Porto each defeated their opponents. Last year's runners-up in the UEFA Europa League, Benfica from Portugal toppled Dutch team AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in an away game. Benfica's 23-year-old Argentine winger Eduardo Salvio's single goal determined the result of the game, ensuring the Portuguese team keep their advantage for the second leg to be played in Lisbon.

Italian giants Juventus defeated France's Olympique Lyon 1-0 thanks to their Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci in the last few minutes of the game and Juve returned home to Turin with an advantage.

In another game of the night, Swiss team Basel cruised past Valencia from Spain 3-0 in their home ground, St. Jakob-Park. Basel's 31-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder, Matias Delgado, an ex-player of Turkey's Besiktas, stood out in this match with his performance as his brace in the first half defeated Valencia in Switzerland. The third goal for Basel was scored by Swiss left midfielder Valentin Stocker during injury time.

Having won the UEFA Europa League trophy twice in their history, Porto won against Spanish team Sevilla 1-0 at home. Porto's French defender Eliaquim Mangala's header made Porto carve out an advantage for next Thursday's return leg. 

The second leg matches will be played on April 10.

 - Results of the first leg games are as follows:

AZ Alkmaar 0 - 1 Benfica

Olympique Lyon 0 - 1 Juventus

Basel 3 - 0 Valencia

Porto 1 - 0 Sevilla

 - Fixture for the second leg matches is as follows: 

(All matches will kick off at 21:05 CET)

Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar

Juventus vs Olympique Lyon

Valencia vs Basel

Sevilla vs Porto