Both Manchester clubs lost the first legs of their Europa League ties. City traveled to Portugal to face Sporting CP Lisbon, Oguchi Onyewu's club, but lost after Joe Hart saved twice only for Xandao to backheel past him for the lone goal at 51'. Onyewu did not feature in the match as he is nursing an injury. City will host Sporting at the Etihad Stadium on March 15, with a good chance to reverse the result.
United fell 2-3 to Athletic Bilbao at home, setting up a very difficult return leg next Thursday. Wayne Rooney started things right for United at 22' when he put back a rebound from a Chicharito shoat, but Fernando Llorente equalized just before halftime. Oscar de Marcos volleyed on into the far corner 72' into the match to give Athletic the lead, and Iker Muniain capitalized on a rebound and some poor defending to make it three. Just after the restart de Marcos would handle the ball, and Rooney buried his spot kick to close the gap back to one. Bilbao will host Manchester United in Catalonia for the return leg.
There are three Erediviisie clubs left in the competition. Jozy Altidore put in a full shift for AZ Alkmaar as they beat Udinese 2-0. Maarten Martens scored just after the hour mark, while his substitute Erik Falkenburg scored 7 minutes after his entrance. Twente Enschede defeated Bundesliga side Schalke 04 thanks to a Luuk de Jong penalty. PSV Eindoven did not fare as well, falling 4-2 away at Valencia. The Spanish side went up by four thanks to Victor Ruiz, a Roberto Soldado brace, and Pablo Piatti. They concded a penalty in the 83' though, which was converted by Ola Toivonen, and gave up a very late second away goal to Georgino Wijnaldum.
Greek side Olympiakos traveled to FC Metalist Kharkiv in the Ukraine, where David Fuster pulled out a winner at 50'. Atletico Madrid went up three nil in the first half over Besiktas after Eduardo Salvio netted a brace and Adrian added to the talley. Simao was able to get a crucial away goal when he scored in the second half. Standard Liege and Hannover 96 played to a 2-2 draw in Belgium.
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