Paris, France. AFP.- In the return of the Europa League, with the first leg of the round of 32, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic, Milan and Arsenal won away from home on Thursday and took a big step towards the round of 16 of the second continental competition.
Dynamo Kiev, which had Paraguayan offensive midfielder Derlis González in their ranks, drew 1-1 with AEK in Athens.
The situation for other favorites in the competition, such as Borussia Dortmund, became less clear, as they were only able to win 3-2 against Atalanta with a goal in stoppage time by Belgian Michy Batshuayi. Napoli, the leader of Serie A, lost 3-1 at home to RB Leipzig and is on the brink of the abyss.
Two Spanish clubs, Villarreal and Real Sociedad, also found themselves in a difficult situation. The former lost 3-1 in Lyon, while the latter drew 2-2 at home against Salzburg.
The other Spanish teams, Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, won as visitors against Copenhagen (4-1) and Spartak Moscow (3-1) respectively.
Milan and Arsenal, on the other hand, won 3-0 away from home against Bulgarian Ludogorets and Swedish Östersund respectively.
The second leg matches will be played next Thursday.
-- First leg results of the Europa League round of 32:
- Tuesday:
Estrella Roja (SRB) - CSKA Moscow (RUS) 0 - 0
- Thursday:
Astana (KAZ) - Sporting Lisbon (POR) 1 - 3
Borussia Dortmund (GER) - Atalanta (ITA) 3 - 2
Nice (FRA) - Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) 2 - 3
Spartak Moscow (RUS) - Athletic Bilbao (ESP) 1 - 3
Real Sociedad (ESP) - Salzburg (AUT) 2 - 2
Ludogorets (BUL) - AC Milan (ITA) 0 - 3
Östersund (SWE) - Arsenal (ENG) 0 - 3
Marseille (FRA) - Sporting Braga (POR) 3 - 0
FC Copenhagen (DEN) - Atlético Madrid (ESP) 1 - 4
AEK Athens (GRE) - Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 1 - 1
Celtic Glasgow (SCO) - Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 1 - 0
Napoli (ITA) - RB Leipzig (GER) 1 - 3
Lyon (FRA) - Villarreal (ESP) 3 - 1
Partizan Belgrade (SRB) - Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 1 - 1
Steaua Bucharest (ROM) - Lazio (ITA) 1 - 0