Leverkusen produce miracle in Europa League, West Ham thrash Freiburg

Patrik Schick scored twice in stoppage time to send Bayer Leverkusen into the Europa League quarter-finals amid high drama after they had been trailing 2-0 to Azerbaijan's Qarabag and facing a first defeat of the season.

Xabi Alonso's side came close to losing in Baku last week but for a late Schick leveller for 2-2 there and on Thursday they again fought back to win 3-2 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate.

Alonso told RTL: "We lost control of the game a little bit. Perhaps we weren't the best team today but we showed heart and passion."

The clear Bundesliga leaders are targeting a treble of trophies this term as they are also into the semi-finals of the German Cup.

Second-half goals from Abdellah Zoubir and Juninho looked set to inflict a first defeat in 37 games on the Germans, who were not at their best given a degree of rotation.

Qarabag even went down to 10 men between their goals when Elvin
Jafarguliyev saw a straight red.

Jeremie Frimpong pulled one back with a clever volley on 72 minutes and the Werkself never let up, such is their confidence this term.

First Alex Grimaldo produced yet another assist this season as Czech striker Schick turned in his cross three minutes into stoppage time and then the 28-year-old popped up again with the clock showing 90+8 to spark pandemonium inside the BayArena.

Liverpool battered Sparta Prague 6-1 at Anfield, with four of the home goals coming in the first 14 minutes, to seal an 11-2 thrashing over the two legs to reach the Europa League last eight.

Roma lost 1-0 at Brighton but eased through 4-1 overall and fellow Italians Atalanta also qualified.

Pedro Gonçalves scored but injured himself in the process as Sporting took the lead but Ademola Lookman and Gianluca Scamacca gave the Bergamo side a 2-1 win and 3-2 aggregate triumph.

Conference League champions West Ham United moved into the Europa League quarter-finals after thumping Germany's Freiburg 5-0, with AC Milan, Marseille and Rangers also progressing in the early games.

The Londoners have proved themselves to be a European force in recent years, having also reached the Europa League semis two seasons ago.

The result could also prove crucial for next season's revamped and enlarged Champions League, where the top two national associations in terms of co-efficients receive an extra spot.

The Hammers' victory at the London Stadium means it is more likely England rather than Germany will get a fifth Champions League spot.

Freiburg, hoping to reach the last eight of European competition for the first time, won last week's first leg 1-0 at home but Lucas Paquetá brought West Ham level after just 9 minutes.

Jarrod Bowen celebrated his latest England call-up with a fine goal just after the half hour before Aaron Cresswell and a Mohammed Kudus double - including a special first - sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter said: "West Ham showed us what efficiency means. We didn't have a chance."

Milan flew into the last eight of a competition they have never won with a 3-1 win at 10-man Slavia Prague for a 7-3 aggregate success.

US winger Christian Pulisic and English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek netted within two minutes of each other in the first half as the Czechs paid the price for Tomáš Holeš being sent off on 20 minutes.

Rafael Leão made it three before Matěj Jurásek's consolation.

Villarreal won 3-1 but it was not enough to overturn Marseille's 4-0 victory from last week as the French side edged through in Spain.

Benfica knocked out Rangers 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in Glasgow thanks to Rafa Silva's 66th-minute goal.

The open quarter-final draw is on Friday.