Advantage Arsenal, Atlético and Lyon, Dortmund wobble
Thursday, March 8, 2018
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Arsenal, Atlético Madrid and Lyon have taken significant steps closer to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, but the road ahead looks treacherous for Dortmund.
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Arsenal left San Siro with smiles on their faces, and Salzburg earned a notable victory at Dortmund, but there is plenty of life left in the round of 16 ties following Thursday's first legs.
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Europa League round of 16 first legs
Atlético 3-0 Lokomotiv Moskva
CSKA Moskva 0-1 Lyon
Dortmund 1-2 Salzburg
Lazio 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv
Leipzig 2-1 Zenit
Marseille 3-1 Athletic
Milan 0-2 Arsenal
Sporting CP 2-0 Plzeň
Arsenal's recent woes were put to one side as first-half finishes from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey earned them a 2-0 win at AC Milan, and Atlético Madrid also seem to have one foot in the quarter-finals after they built on Saúl Ñíguez's stunning opener to beat Lokomotiv Moskva 3-0.
Final hosts Lyon can feel optimistic too, after leaving CSKA Moskva with a 1-0 lead, but the eastern European winter could yet have a influential role in this round of 16, Zenit and Dynamo Kyiv both heading home for the second legs with a lot to play for. Dortmund, meanwhile, must atone for a 2-1 loss as they visit Austria for their decider with Salzburg.