Udinese stay in control

Europa League review: Two goals in the final two minutes saw Udinese overcome Atletico Madrid 2-0 and maintain their unbeaten…

Europa League review:Two goals in the final two minutes saw Udinese overcome Atletico Madrid 2-0 and maintain their unbeaten record in Europa League Group I.

Mehdi Benatia and Antonio Floro Flores were both on target as the hosts moved three points clear of their rivals, who suffered their first defeat in the pool.

Schalkeand Maccabi Haifaremain first and second in Group J after both recorded 5-0 victories.

Lewis Holtby set the German side on their way at AEK Larnacaand Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Benedikt Howedes headed the second and third in quick succession before Julian Draxler and Huntelaar, with his second, sealed a comprehensive win.

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Maccabi also took a big step towards the last 32, remaining a point behind the Royal Blues with a 5-0 home triumph over nine-man Steaua Bucharest.

An early double from Weam Amasha had Maccabi in control inside the opening 20 minutes and things got worse for Steaua with Eric Bicfalvi dismissed in the 36th minute as he conceded a penalty from which Yaniv Katan made it 3-0.

Maccabi even managed to miss a penalty, in the 65th minute, after Valentin Iliev was sent off, but the goals continued to flow thanks to Taleb Tawatcha and Idan Vered.

FC Twentemoved three points clear at the top of Group K thanks to a 4-1 victory over Odense BKin Denmark.

Goals from Wout Brama, Emir Bajrami and substitute Nacer Chadli put the Dutch side firmly in control and, although Djiby Fall pulled one back for the hosts, Luuk de Jong soon restored Twente's three-goal cushion.

Anderlechtmaintained their 100 per cent Group L record with a 2-0 win over 10-man Sturm Grazat the UPC-Arena thanks to second-half goals from Guillaume Gillet and Matias Suarez.

Sturm defender Thomas Burgstaller saw red in between the strikes.

Second-placed Lokomotiv Moscowboosted their hopes of also advancing with a 3-1 triumph against AEK Athensin the Russian capital.

Dmitri Sychev headed the opener just after the break and rammed home the second from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.

Dimitris Sialmas pulled one back for AEK in the 88th minute but substitute Felipe Caicedo restored Lokomotiv's two-goal cushion in stoppage time.

Metalist Kharkivovercame the first-half dismissal of Jonathan Cristaldo to hammer Malmo4-1 in Sweden and move to the top of Group G.

Jiloan Hamad had fired the home side in front, only for Cristaldo to equalise.

The Argentinian striker was then given his marching orders just five minutes after scoring, but the Ukrainian club responded magnificently with strikes from Vinicius Fininho, Edmar and Marko Devic wrapping up an emphatic win.

The result meant Metalist moved two points clear of AZ Alkmaar at the pool summit as the Eredivisie leaders drew 2-2 at home to Austria Vienna.

The visitors had taken a 2-0 first-half lead through a Dirk Marcellis own goal and a Gorgon strike, but goals by Peter Hlinka and Pontus Wernbloom in the last 10 minutes rescued a point for AZ, who had Niklas Moisander sent off in stoppage time.

In Group H, NK Mariborand Bragabattled out a 1-1 draw.

Agim Ibraimi opened the scoring for Maribor in the 14th minute before Uwa Echiejile equalised for Braga just before the break.