Spanish trio prepare for Europa League return leg games

Spain's three representatives in the Europa League all hold a slight advantage but none of them can be assured of progressing to the last 16 of the competition when they play the return legs of their respective ties on Thursday night.

Athletic Club Bilbao are the only one of the trio to be playing at home and the Basques know a 0-0 or a 1-1 draw would see them home against an in-form Torino after a 2-2 draw in Italy a week ago.

However, Athletic also learned in the first leg that Torino are a well-drilled and aggressive side that scored goals with relative east and coach, Ernesto Valverde has already warned that it is too early for his players to start celebrating yet.

Athletic are likely to give Iago Herrerin another chance in goal, while Inaki Williams also has a good chance of leading the attack if Valverde opts to rest star striker Aritz Aduriz for Sunday's key league game away to local rivals, Eibar.

Villarreal defend a narrow 2-1 lead away to Red Bulll Salzburg and the Austrian side's Spanish striker, Jonathan Soriano will once again be looking to prove he is good enough to play in the Primera Liga.

The Spaniards were good value for their narrow win in the El Madrigal Stadium, but cannot afford any lapses of concentration against a rival which at times surprised with the confidence they showed in their own game.

Finally Sevilla, who suffered a major setback in their battle to finish fourth in the league as a result of their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend defend a 1-0 first leg win away to Borussia Munchengladbach.

Sevilla know that scoring an away goal will leave the Germans with an uphill task and Carlos Bacca will probably start, while Jose Antonio Reyes could also get his chance. Sevilla coach, Unai Emery will have to juggle his cards carefully however, given that his side entertain Atletico Madrid on Sunday and another defeat would leave fourth place beyond their reach. Endi