Real Madrid scored three goals in the last 16 minutes against Cypriot champions Apoel Nicosia, and Jose Mourinho’s side appear to have one foot in the Champions League semi-final. The Portuguese, who won Europe’s top club trophy in 2010 with Inter Milan, has never before lost a tie in the quarter-finals, and after two goals from Karim Benzema and one from substitute Kaka it seems his passage to the last four will not be impeded.
At the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Stadium in the Cypriot capital, the home side, who became the first club in their country to reach the knockout stages of the competition this year, proved stubborn opponents for the free-scoring Spanish league leaders. The nine-times European champions, captained by goalkeeper Iker Casillas who was making his 125th appearance in Europe, dominated the match but Apoel, defended solidly to frustrate Madrid.
Benzema missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring late in the first half, in which the visitors enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession. The French striker inexplicably directed the ball over the bar from close range with the goal gaping.
The arrival of Brazilian Kaka as a replacement for forward Gonzalo Higuain midway through the second half created the breakthrough. He produced a superb cross from the left for Benzema to head powerfully home after 74 minutes.
Kaka then scored the second goal from eight metres following a surging run down the left by his fellow substitute and countryman Marcelo, who managed to cut the ball back as he was falling over.
Benzema struck again shortly before the final whistle and tapped home a delightful pass from German playmaker Mesut Ozil to put the La Liga table-toppers firmly on course for a semi-final berth.
Mourinho’s team will host Apoel at the Santiago Bernabeu a week today, and the winners of will play either Marseille or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Madrid continue their impressive run – in the last 39 matches they have notched up 33 victories, and scored in every single game.
Apoel Nicosia (4-4-2): Chiotis; Jorge, Oliveira (Kaka 13), Poursaitides, Boaventura; Charalambides, Pinto (Solari 72), Morais, Alexandrou (Sousa 46); Ailton, Trickovski. Goals: Benzema 74, 90, Kaka 82
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao (Marcelo 64), Arbeloa; Sahin (Granero84), Khedira, Ozil; Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain (Kaka 64).
Referee: F Brych (Germany). Att: 22,000