Copa del Rey wrap: Real Madrid, Sevilla into semis
24 January 2013 00:42
Nine-man Real Madrid secured their passage to the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Mestalla on Wednesday.
The result means Real wins the two-legged tie 3-1 on aggregate after their 2-0 victory at home last week.
It was a shaky start for Real with keeper Iker Casillas forced from the field with a hand injury after only 17 minutes.
But the capital club took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Karim Benzema lost his marker and slotted home after good work from Xabi Alonso.
Valencia were given a lifeline six minutes after the restart when Real left-back Fabio Coentrao was handed a second yellow card for hand ball and Tino Costa steered the resulting free-kick in to level the match.
Real rallied, defending deep to protect their three-goal aggregate lead before they were reduced to nine men in the 88th minute after Angel Di Maria's petulant kick-out on Joao Pereira.
But it was too late for Valencia as Real progressed to a potential Clasico semi-final against Barcelona, should the Catalans overcome Malaga on Thursday.
In the night's other match, an Alvaro Negredo brace helped Sevilla through to the semi-finals with a 4-0 win over Real Zaragoza.
The Spanish striker struck in the 36th and 67th minutes, supplemented by Ivan Rakitic's 48th-minute effort and Manu's stoppage time strike on 92 minutes.
Sevilla won the tie 4-0 on aggregate after the first leg finished 0-0 at Zaragoza last week.
The victory means Sevilla will face the winner of the Real Betis-Atletico Madrid quarter final, with Atletico currently leading 2-0 on aggregate.
