A. Madrid, Sporting in charge

Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon took control of their Europa League semi-final ties with first-leg victories over Valencia and Athletic Bilbao yesterday.

In Madrid, Atletico put one foot in the Europa League final after a Radamel Falcao double lifted the 2010 winners to a 4-2 semi-final first-leg win at home to La Liga rivals Valencia.

The Colombia striker nodded Atletico ahead in the 18th minute at a festive Calderon before Jonas levelled moments before the break.

Second-half goals from defender Miranda, forward Adrian and a stunning second from Falcao made it 4-1 before Ricardo Costa snatched a second for the visitors in the fourth minute of added time to keep Valencia’s hopes alive for next week’s return at their Mestalla stadium.

Known as ‘The Tiger’, Falcao took his tally in this season’s edition of Europe’s second-tier club competition to 10 goals, level with Schalke 04 striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, although the Colombian is still some way short of the record of 17 he set last season during Porto’s triumphant campaign.

Valencia were looking to avenge their controversial elimination at the hands of Atletico at the quarter-final stage two years ago, when they had a clear penalty claim turned down and went out on away goals.

Midfielder Arda Turan created Atletico’s opening goal when he got the better of Adil Rami on the byline and his cross was deflected to Falcao who nodded past Diego Alves.

Rami made amends for his error in first-half added time when he leaped above the Atletico defence at a corner and nodded the ball on for Jonas to prod home at the far post.

Miranda stole in behind the Valencia defence to nod in Diego’s free-kick four minutes after the break and Adrian sped past his marker and shot back across Alves into the corner for Atletico’s third five minutes later.

Falcao then struck the goal of the night in the 78th minute when he cut in from the right past two defenders and lashed the ball high into the net off the underside of the bar, prompting wild celebrations from coach Diego Simeone.

But in almost the last action of the match, Costa sent a powerful header past Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Tino Costa’s outswinging corner to give Valencia hope of turning the tie around.

Slender lead

Sporting came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at home thanks to goals by Emiliano Insua and Diego Capel, earning a slender but well-deserved advantage.

Bilbao struggled to reproduce the inspired form that helped them beat Manchester United and Schalke 04 in previous rounds and will need to improve in next week’s second leg if they want to reach the Bucharest final in May 9.

Jon Aurtenetxe grabbed the breakthrough for the visitors in the 54th minute, easily tapping the ball in after Sporting’s Insua failed to clear Markel Susaeta’s free-kick.

But Sporting, unbeaten in 11 European home games, kept on believing and Argentine Insua made up for his mistake 20 minutes later, levelling with an exquisite header before Capel rifled in the winner with a left-footed shot.

Results

Semi-Finals, first legs

A. Madrid 4
Falcao 18,78,Miranda 49, Adrian 54
Valencia 2
Jonas 45, Ricardo 90


S. Lisbon 2
Insua 76, Capel 80
A. Bilbao 1
Aurtenetxe 54

Second legs: April 26
Final: (Bucharest) May 9.