Daily Times

VALENCIA: Valencia eased into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spaniards Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1 aggregate scoreline. Toni Lato and Dani Parejo scored the goals that secured the victory and set up a meeting with Arsenal and Valencia’s former coach Unai Emery in the last four after the London side won 1-0 at Napoli to wrap up a 3-0 aggregate victory. Full back Lato strolled into a gaping hole in the visiting defence to volley Valencia in front in the 13th minute at a rain-swept Mestalla to further settle the home side, who enjoyed a 3-1 win at Villarreal in the first leg. Valencia doubled their lead early in the second half with a free kick by captain Parejo which took a deflection off defender Ramiro Funes Mori, and many fans took the goal as their cue to leave the roofless stadium in search of some shelter. The only disappointment for Marcelino’s side is that their former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is suspended from the semi-final first leg after a late booking for handball. Valencia and Arsenal are both battling to finish in the top four in their domestic leagues to secure Champions League football for next season but winning the Europa League offers another way into the continent’s elite club competition.