Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea seized the initiative in their Europa League quarter-final tie with Rubin Kazan after securing a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

The Spanish striker, who so often has appeared burdened by his £50million price tag, netted a scrappy opener after 16 minutes and headed a second after 70 minutes to double his tally for 2013, while Victor Moses was also on target for the Blues.

But the first leg was not altogether straightforward for last season’s Champions League winners as Bebras Natcho converted a penalty after John Terry was adjudged to have blocked a shot with his arm.

Chelsea are well placed to advance to the last four in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium – scene of their 2008 Champions League final penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United – but the away goal could yet have a crucial bearing on the outcome.

Andre Villas-Boas’ hopes of lifting the Europa League for a second time hang in the balance thanks to a woeful defensive performance and a serious-looking injury to Gareth Bale as his team were held to a 2-2 draw by Basel in London.

Basel arrived in England with a reputation of giant-killing after last year’s defeat of Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

The Swiss champions lived up to the hype last night, scoring two impressive away goals for a 2-2 draw, but their task was made so much easier by some poor Spurs defending.

Lax marking

Valentin Stocker punished Kyle Naughton’s lax marking by slotting home the first and a shell-shocked Tottenham were 2-0 down by the 34th minute when Fabian Frei was left alone to head home a corner.

Emmanuel Adebayor’s fifth of the season and Gylfi Sigurdsson’s second-half effort brought the scores level, but the two away goals leave Villas-Boas’ men in serious danger of exiting the competition at the quarter-final stages.

There were more woes for Spurs after David Degen stood on Bale’s ankle and he had to be carried off on a stretcher – a worrying sight for a clearly concerned Villas-Boas.

Two late goals finally broke the resistance of 10-man Lazio and handed Fenerbahce a clear 2-0 advantage after the first leg of their quarter-final in Istanbul.

Pierre Webo’s 79th-minute penalty and Dirk Kuyt’s late finish ensured the hosts eventually made their second-half pressure pay.

Ogenyi Onazi’s red card three minutes after the break handed the initiative to the Turks, but, after hitting a post and seeing a succession of other chances missed, they looked in danger of being frustrated.

But Webo held his nerve after Stefan Radu had handled in the area to opening the scoring and Kuyt added a second at the death.

Benfica came from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1 in Lisbon.

Papiss Cisse put the Magpies ahead after 12 minutes but Benfica hit back and goals from Rodrigo, Lima and Cardozo earned them a solid lead ahead of the second leg.

QFs – first legs

Benfica 3
Rodrigo 25, Lima 65, Cardozo 71 pen
Newcastle 1
Cisse 12

Chelsea 3
Torres 16, 70, Moses 32
R. Kazan 1
Natcho 41 pen

Fenerbahce 2
Webo 78 pen, Kuyt 90
Lazio 0
Red card: Onazi (L) 47

Tottenham 2
Adebayor 40, Sigurdsson 58
Basel 2
Stocker 30, Frei 34