Valencia and Hanover through in Europa League

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 23, 2012, 19:56 GMT

Berlin - Spanish La Liga club Valencia and Bundesliga team Hanover on Thursday advanced to the round of the last 16 in the Europa League.

Valencia beat Stoke City 1-0 in their return leg in the round of 32 to advance 2-0 on aggregate, while Hanover won 1-0 in Brugge for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

In Valencia Brazilian international striker Jonas scored the only goal for the Spanish side, with new Senegalese signing Mame Diouf being the matchwinner for the German side in Belgium.

Diouf, who joined the Bundesliga side on a two-year contract from Manchester United during the winter break, said that they had known before the game that it would not be easy.

'Brugge had to come at us and we had to soak up the pressure. I am glad that we managed to win the game and go through to the next round.

'I am very happy at the new club and hopefully we can do well in the Europa League and the Bundesliga,' the 24-year-old said.

High-flying Serie A team Udinese, who were held to a goalless draw by PAOK Saloniki in the first leg, turned things around in Greece with a 3-0 victory.

Danilo, Antonio Floro Flores and Maurizio Domizzi scored the goals for the visitors.

Also through on the night were Atletico Bilbao, who won 1-0 against Lokomotive Moscow to advance on the away goal rule after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate. The Spanish side had Fernando Amorebieta sent off on the hour, but still scored shortly afterwards through Iker Muniain and then held onto the lead.

Dutch club FC Twente ended Steaua Bucharest's dreams of a home-final with a 1-0 victory for a 2-0 aggregate victory. Nacer Chadli scored the only goal of the game in the Netherlands.

Standard Liege qualified for the next round after a goalless draw against a 10-man Wisla Krakow side, going through on the away goal, while PSV Eindhoven had a comfortable 4-1 win on the night against Turkish club Trabzonspor, who were reduced to 10 men just before the break after goalkeeper Tolga Zengin was sent off. The Dutch club advanced 6-2 on aggregate.

On Wednesday Manchester City knocked out the cup holders Porto with an emphatic 6-1 overall victory after a 4-0 win on the night.

A further eight second leg matches will be played later Thursday.