Real Madrid one foot into Copa del Rey semi-finals

Posted on January 16, 2013 by SoccerPunter

Real Madrid beat Valencia 2-0 in their quarter-final first leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu to edge closer towards Spain Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Goals by French striker Karim Benzema and an own goal by Mexican defender Andres Guardado gave Real Madrid a huge advantage before traveling to Estadio de Mestalla for the second-leg clash.

The result has eased the tension at Real Madrid camp as they are third in the Spanish Primera Divsion and trail Barcelona by 18 points.

Valencia captain Roberto Soldado and club president Manuel Llorente criticized the performance of referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez and his assistants because three borderline offside decisions had gone against them as well as a Gonzalo Higuain handball during the second goal.

Tonight there are more matches from Copa del Rey:
Real Zaragoza vs Sevilla
Barcelona vs Malaga

However, it was far from an assured performance by Jose Mourinho’s side and but for some poor Valencia finishing they could have been travelling to Valencia for the second leg on level terms.

Benzema, though, steadied their nerves eight minutes before half-time as the France international striker showed some kind of return to form as he slotted home after being set up by Sami Khedira in a move started by Michael Essien.

The hosts’ second came in the 73rd minute from a counter attack just after Valencia’s Brazilian striker Jonas had missed a terrific opportunity to equalise.

Guardado put the ball into his own net from Fabio Coentrao’s centre and the damage could have been greater for the visitors had not Vicente Guaita made two point blank saves from Cristiano Ronaldo in a matter of minutes.