Premier League leaders Manchester City suffered a 1-0 defeat by Sporting Lisbon in their Europa League last 16 first-leg clash on Thursday, as 2010 winners Atletico Madrid closed in on the quarter-finals.

City had crushed Portuguese league leaders Porto 6-1 on aggregate in the previous round, but Sporting proved a far more formidable obstacle at Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Brazilian centre-back Xandao claimed the game’s only goal with a clever back-heel in the 51st minute to give Ricardo Sa Pinto’s side a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg at the City of Manchester Stadium next week.

Victory extended Sporting’s unbeaten European home record to 10 games, while City coach Roberto Mancini was left to rue an injury to captain Vincent Kompany that forced the Belgian centre-back to leave the fray early in the game.

In Madrid, Atletico saw off Besiktas of Turkey 3-1 with all of the home team’s goals coming in the first half.

But a second-half strike by Portuguese international Simao, who spent three seasons at Atletico before moving to Turkey last year, gave Besiktas hope of over-turning the deficit in the second leg.

Atletico scored twice in three minutes through Eduardo Salvio in the 24th and 27th minutes, with Adrian Lopez adding a fine solo effort for a third, eight minutes before the break.

However, 32-year-old Simao struck a crucial 53rd-minute volley for the visitors to keep their hopes alive.

FC Twente, managed by former England manager Steve McClaren, clinched a 1-0 home win against Schalke of Germany thanks to a 61st-minute penalty from Luuk de Jong, who had been brought down by Joel Matip.

In the night’s other early kick-off, Olympiakos of Greece came away from Metalist Kharkiv with a 1-0 win thanks to a 50th-minute goal from David Fuster.

Later on Thursday, Manchester United tackle Athletic Bilbao, Standard Liege meet Hanover, Valencia host PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar take on Udinese.