Europa League review:Aiden McGeady's hopes of playing a Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium in May were seemingly blown out of the water by FC Porto's 5-1 demolition of Spartak Moscow this evening.
The quarter-final first leg saw the newly crowned Portuguese champions, unbeaten all season and aiming for a league, cup and European treble, brush Spartak aside thanks to a Radamel Falcao hat-trick and goals from Silvestre Varela and Maicon.
Kirill Kombarov got an away goal for the Russian side with 20 minutes to go but they have a mountain to climb in the second leg, nonetheless.
Porto’s great rivals Benfica also enjoyed a bit of a stroll when the beat PSV Eindhoven 4-1 at home.
Benfica, attempting to reach their first European semi-final for 17 years, had three Argentines to thank for victory.
A brace from Eduardo Salvio and one each for Pablo Aimar and Javier Saviola did the damage.
Two goals from Brazil striker Nilmar helped Villarreal to a 5-1 win over Dutch league leaders Twente Enschede on a dismal evening for the Netherlands.
Portugal's third representatives Braga, conquerors of Liverpool in the last 16, held Dynamo Kiev to a 1-1 draw away in the other tie.
