Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid overcame German opposition to reach the Europa League semifinals Thursday while fellow Spaniards Valencia joined them by demolishing AZ Alkmaar. Sporting completed an all-Iberian lineup by knocking out Metalist Kharkiv, which missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw in Ukraine allowing the Portuguese side go through 3-2 on aggregate. Athletic played more of the entertaining football which is a hallmark of its eccentric coach Marcelo Bielsa as it drew 2-2 at home to Schalke 04 to qualify 6-4 on aggregate. Atletico Madrid won 2-1 at Hanover 96 with an 87th minute winner from Radamel Falcao, last season's top scorer in the competition playing for champions Porto, to complete a 4-2 aggregate win. Adil Rami scored two early goals to set Valencia on its way to a 4-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar as it comfortably overturned a first-leg deficit to win 5-2 on aggregate. Spain also has Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last four of the Champions League and there is now a possibility that both European finals this season will be all-Spanish affairs. Atletico Madrid faces Valencia in the semifinals while Athletic Bilbao, enjoying its best European campaign since reaching the final of the old UEFA Cup in 1977, play Sporting. The showpiece will be staged in Bucharest on May 9 where an Athletic-Atletico final would pit Bielsa against Diego Simeone, who played under him for nearly four years with Argentina, on the touchline. Leading 4-2 after their impressive win in Gelsenkirchen, Bielsa's Athletic side, 11th in La Liga, did it the hard way, twice coming from behind against the Bundesliga's third place team. Bielsa, who has also coached Chile, watched the game in his unmistakable manner, either pacing incessantly up and down the technical area or crouching on his knees. His nerves were on edge when Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar put Schalke ahead in the 29th minute with a low drive from the edge of the area, but Ibai Gomez levelled four minutes before the break at a typically exuberant San Mames. Former Real Madrid and Spain striker Raul put Schalke back in front with a left-foot strike from 25 meters in the 52nd minute, giving the Germans renewed hope of an unlikely fightback. It was short-lived, though, as Markel Susaeta burst forward to fire the equaliser three minutes later. Atletico, Europa League winner two seasons ago, took a 2-1 lead to Germany and was happy to sit back until the 63rd minute when Adrian Lopez pounced to score a fine individual goal. Mame Biram Diouf brought Hanover back into contention with an 81st minute equalizer but striker Falcao settled the match three minutes from time. The Colombian striker, who hit a competition record 17 goals last season, cushioned Diego's pass on his chest and thumped home an emphatic finish to the delight of Atletico coach Simeone, wearing his customary all-black outfit. — Reuters
