Eden Hazard crowned an enterprising display with a late goal to give Lille a 1-0 victory over beleaguered English giant Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie this morning (AEDT).

Liverpool, which is sixth in the English Premier League after losing 1-0 to Wigan on Tuesday, was short of fluency on an uneven playing surface in northern France and sank to defeat when Hazard’s 84th-minute free kick drifted straight in.

The Belgian youngster had been a constant torment with his purposeful running and his goal, albeit fortuitous, puts his side in the driving seat prior to the return match at Anfield on March 18.

Elsewhere, Serie A giant Juventus assumed command of its Europa League last-16 tie against Fulham with a 3-1 first-leg victory.

Juve took an early lead in Turin when centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie headed home from a ninth-minute corner before right-back Jonathan Zebina extended the advantage with a thunderous 25-yard effort.

Dickson Etuhu’s deflected shot reduced the arrears but former France international David Trezeguet restored the home side’s two-goal cushion by volleying home in first-half injury time after his shot came back off the post.

Lille has lost just twice at home all season and it began the game full of intent, with Yohan Cabaye testing Jose Reina inside the first minute.

Liverpool eventually settled, though, and on 26 minutes Ryan Babel was thwarted by Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau after a neat one-two with Fernando Torres.

Liverpool ended the first half strongly and Landreau was twice called into action, palming away Steven Gerrard’s free kick and then springing to his feet to claw away Torres’s header.

Hazard raised the temperature in the stadium shortly before the break with a menacing dribble and shot, while Babel was first to threaten in the second period when his fierce effort stung Landreau’s palms.

Lille counter-attacked sporadically, with Pierre-Alain Frau, Cabaye and substitute Stephane Dumont all threatening from distance, while Daniel Agger narrowly avoided diverting Florent Balmont’s cross into his own goal.

Torres picked up a yellow card for persistent dissent as Liverpool became rattled, before Hazard provided the breakthrough with an in-swinging free kick from wide on the left that missed everyone and crept inside the far post.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang volleyed against the outside of the post as Lille went close to extending its advantage, while Gerrard was denied by a convergence of home defenders after surging into the penalty area in injury time.

Elsewhere, a delightful curling finish from Bosnian playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic in the 67th minute earned Wolfsburg a 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan in the battle of the reigning league champions from Germany and Russia.

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his first home goal for new club Hamburg as it defeated Anderlecht 3-1, with Jonathan Legear’s superb free kick on the stroke of half-time earning the visitors an away goal.

Sporting Lisbon secured a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid despite the 31st-minute dismissal of defender Leandro Grimi for two bookable offences and a straight red card for Tonel in the final minute.

Meanwhile in Spain, Valencia was held to a 1-1 draw at home to last season’s runners-up Werder Bremen, which took a 24th-minute lead via a Torsten Frings penalty.

The hosts had Argentine midfielder Ever Banega dismissed in the second half for violent conduct but they drew level almost immediately through Juan Mata, who slotted home after Spain team-mate David Silva’s shot was blocked.

A last-minute Hatem Ben Arfa header earned Marseille an impressive 1-1 draw at free-scoring Portuguese league leader Benfica, while Panathiniakos, which eliminated Serie A heavyweight Roma in the last round, wase beaten 3-1 at home by Standard Liege.

- AFP