Tottenham is well-positioned to advance to the quarterfinals of the Europa League after picking up a 3-0 defeat of Inter Milan at White Hart Lane on Thursday.

Spurs found themselves with a two-goal lead inside the opening 18 minutes as Gareth Bale and Gylfi Sigurdsson put the English side in a comfortable position.

Bale's goal, his 14th in as many games across all competitions, came from a glancing header to the back post after just six minutes. Sigurdsson made it two on the stroke of 18 minutes with his second goal in three games.

Tottenham extended its lead just eight minutes into the second half when Jan Vertonghen sent a corner kick past Samir Handanovic with a powerful header. The Inter 'keeper got a hand to the shot but was unable to keep it out.

The only snag for Andre Villas-Boas' men came in the 15th minute when Bale was cautioned for simulation, meaning that the Welshman will miss the next match through yellow card accumulation.

But the three-goal advantage certainly puts Tottenham firmly in the driver's seat, leaving Inter with a mountain to climb when the two sides square off at the San Siro on March 14.

The two remaining English clubs involved in Europa League action were not quite as fortunate as Spurs on Thursday.

Chelsea, reigning European champions, suffered a 1-0 loss at Steaua Bucurest as Raul Rusescu's converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute, and Newcastle was held to a 0-0 draw by Anzhi in Russia.

Lazio looks a strong bet to progress to the quarterfinals after the Italian side picked up a 2-0 win over Stuttgart at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Thursday. Honorato Campos Ederson and Ogenyi Onazi produced the goods to give the Serie A club a comfortable edge with two vital away goals.

Elsewhere in Europa League action on Thursday, Fenerbahce garnered a 1-0 win at Viktoria Plzen, Benfica needed a first-half own goal from Cedric Carrasso to earn a 1-0 win over Bordeaux, Basel scored twice in the final eight minutes to claim a 2-0 victory over Zenit and both Levante and Rubin Kazan were reduced to 10 men in a 0-0 draw in Valencia.