Europa League: Four teams gain first-leg advantages

By Fatih Erel</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Four teams gained advantages in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals first-leg matches played Thursday ahead of second-leg matches next week.</p> <p>Arsenal met Italy's Napoli in London, where a goal by Aaron Ramsey gave the English club an early lead in the 15th minute and Lucas Torreira's deflected strike made it 2-0 in the first half. The game ended with that score. </p> <p>Spanish clubs Villarreal and Valencia also faced off. Both teams scored their first goals from penalty shots. The first half ended 1-1. Valencia scored their second and third goals in extra time to end the game 1-3. </p> <p>Meanwhile, Portuguese club Benfica beat Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 as 19-year-old forward Joao Felix converted a penalty kick in the 21st minute, net a second goal in the 43rd minute and completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute.</p> <p>Czech team Slavia Prague took on Chelsea, with the English club scoring in the 86th minute with Marcos Alonso's header.</p> <p>The second-leg matches will be played on April 18.</p> <p>The results of quarterfinal first-leg matches are as follows:</p> <p>Arsenal (ENG) v Napoli (ITA): 2-0</p> <p>Villarreal (ESP) v Valencia (ESP): 1-3</p> <p>Benfica (POR) v Eintracht Frankfurt (GER): 4-2</p> <p>Slavia Praha (CZE) v Chelsea (ENG): 0-1