Europa League round-up: Juventus and Basel secure wins in quarter-final first-legs

Olympique Lyon's Jimmy Briand challenges Pablo Osvaldo (L) of Juventus (Reuters)

Juventus scored late to beat Lyon 1-0 and take a big stride toward the Europa League semi-finals while Matias Delgado's double helped FC Basel to a 3-0 win over Valencia in a match played in an empty stadium.

Portuguese teams Benfica and Porto are also in strong positions after the first legs of the quarter-finals after 1-0 victories over AZ Alkmaar away and Sevilla at home, respectively.

Leonardo Bonucci grabbed Juventus' winner in the 85th minute at Stade Gerland, keeping the Italian league leaders on course to reach the final in their own stadium on 14 May.

Delgado was unable to celebrate his first-half goals in front of Basel's supporters because the match was played behind closed doors as a punishment for disorder by the Swiss team's fans during the last 16.

AP