Liverpool completed an incredible comeback to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 and reach the Europa League semi-final with Villarreal and Shakhtar Donetsk, while Sevilla needed penalties.
Anfield was witness to one of the most extraordinary games in Europa League history, as the favourites fumbled a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against their former Coach Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool completed an incredible comeback to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 and reach the Europa League semi-final with Villarreal and Shakhtar Donetsk, while Sevilla needed penalties.
Anfield was witness to one of the most extraordinary games in Europa League history, as the favourites fumbled a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against their former Coach Jurgen Klopp.
Borussia Dortmund had been held 1-1 at home in the first leg, so came out fighting and were 2-0 up within nine minutes thanks to Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang running on to an inspired Marco Reus pass.
Dovick Origi gave the hosts hope, quickly dashed by Reus on a wonderful Mats Hummels assist.
The real comeback started on 66 minutes with Philippe Coutinho’s strike from distance, then Mamadou Sakho – who had kept Borussia players onside for all three goals – made up for his errors by nodding in from a corner.
It seemed to be all over, but at the 91st minute Dejan Lovren met a James Milner cross at the back post to raise the roof at Anfield.
There was even still time for another scare, Ilkay Gundogan’s free kick whistled inches wide.
Astonishingly, Liverpool scored with their only four shots on target in the entire game.
Holders Sevilla were forced to extra time by Athletic Bilbao, as the Catalans reversed the first leg 2-1 home defeat by doing the same at the Pizjuan.
Aritz Aduriz opened the scoring, cancelled out by Kevin Gameiro for the hosts, but despite losing Aduriz to injury, Athletic still found the net again with Raul Garcia’s looping header.
Sevilla came very close to a goal in extra time, but Coke’s overhead kick was cleared off the line by Mikel San Jose.
The tie went to penalties and Benat Etxebarria fired his straight into the arms of David Soria, the only error of the shoot-out.
Bizarrely, a brawl broke out in the centre-circle before Gameiro’s final penalty when Athletic tried to provoke the Sevilla striker.
Villarreal made short work of Sparta Prague, following up their 2-1 first leg victory with a comfortable 4-2 success in the Czech Republic.
Cedric Bakambu bagged a brace with Samuel Castillejo and David Lafata accidentally turning into his own net.
Sparta staged a late comeback with Borek Dockal and Ladislav Krejci goals, but it was not enough.
Shakhtar Donetsk swept through to the Europa League semi-finals by hammering Braga 4-0 on the night, 6-1 on aggregate.
Darijo Srna’s penalty and a Viktor Kovalenko tap-in paved the way, but poor Ricardo Ferreira ended up scoring two own goals.