Llorente strikes to seal passage for Villareal

JOSEBA LLORENTE’S strike sealed Villarreal’s place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a battling victory over Panathinaikos in Athens last night.

Llorente replaced the ineffective Nihat at half-time, but it was Ariel Ibagaza who stunned the OACA Spiros Louis stadium crowd with a sumptuous strike to open the scoring just four minutes in.

Pana fought back, winning a series of corners and they were rewarded for their pressure six minutes later when Mantzios powered a header past Lopez. Villarreal took the lead for the second time in the match with 20 minutes remaining when substitute Llorente drilled home.