Europa League round-up: Edin Dzeko treble puts Roma in control against Villarreal

By PA Sport

Image: Edin Dzeko scored a hat-trick in the Europa League on Thursday

Edin Dzeko hit a 21-minute hat-trick as Roma took a 4-0 first-leg advantage in their Europa League last-32 tie against Villarreal.

Emerson gave the visitors the lead in the 32nd minute, with the former Man City striker getting his first goal in the 65th minute.

He added a second 14 minutes later before rounding off a fine performance from Dzeko with four minutes of normal time to play to see Roma firmly in the driving seat heading into the second leg next week.

It was a better night for Villarreal's La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao, who beat Apoel Nicosia 3-2 at home.

Georgios Efrem gave the visitors the lead with 36 minutes on the clock but an own goal from Giorgos Merkis saw the Spanish side level heading into the break.

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Aritz Aduriz scored just after the hour mark to see Bilbao ahead before Inaki Williams netted added a third 11 minutes later, but Giannis Gianniotas ensured it would be a nervy ending as he scored Apoel's second with 89 minutes gone but Bilabo held on to maintain their one-goal lead.

Image: Inaki Williams was on target for Athletic Bilbao during their win against Apoel

Elsewhere, Besiktas won 3-1 at Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Bundesliga side Schalke came away from a trip to PAOK Salonika in Greece with an impressive 3-0 victory.

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Legia Warsaw played out a goalless draw at home to Ajax while Anderlecht beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

In Thursday's other earlier kick-offs, Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon won 4-1 at AZ Alkmaar.

Sparta Prague saw Ivory Coast forward Tiemoko Konate sent off for collecting two yellow cards in the first half as they went down 4-0 away to Rostov.

There was also a red card for FC Copenhagen substitute Jan Gregus during the closing moments of his side's 2-1 win at Ludogorets.

Image: Alexandre Lacazette netted twice during Lyon's 4-0 win against AZ Alkmaar

A late header from Takayuki Seto earned Astra Giurgiu a 2-2 draw against Genk.

Viktor Claesson's goal after five minutes was enough to give Krasnodar a 1-0 home win over Fenerbahce.

Fiorentina left Borussia Monchengladbach with a 1-0 victory, while Shakhtar Donetsk won at Celta Vigo by the same scoreline.

Olympiacos had Brazilian defender Bruno Viana sent off during the closing stages of their goalless draw against Osmanlispor.

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