S.S. Lazio forward Libor Kozák underlined his UEFA Europa League pedigree by becoming the tournament's leading scorer with a hat-trick that ended VfB Stuttgart's slender hopes of overturning a two-goal deficit from the round of 16 first leg.

Kozák took his tally to eight goals in eight outings as Lazio finished off their second Bundesliga opponents in a row, after disposing of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in the last 32, with his first two effectively sealing victory within eight minutes at the Stadio Olimpico. Tamás Hajnal grabbed a consolation for Stuttgart before Kozák struck again late on as the Biancocelesti became the first Serie A side to reach the last eight of this competition since it assumed its current format in 2009.