Girona: Karim Benzema fired Real Madrid into the semifinals of the Copa del Rey by scoring twice Thursday in a 3-1 win over Girona.
Benzema was on target in the first leg too, a 4-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, and he continued his brilliant burst of form with another pair at Montilivi.
Pedro Porro pulled one back for Girona but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Marcos Llorente drove in for a 7-3 win on aggregate.
Real Madrid thus join Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia in the draw for the last four, Friday.
Benzema has been key to Madrid’s run in the Copa del Rey, the Frenchman scoring five goals now in three matches and even casting doubt on Gareth Bale’s place in the side.
Bale has only just returned from a calf injury but was left out of the starting line-up, instead having to wait until the 67th minute to replace the in-form Vinicius (Jr).
Perhaps Solari was keen not to rush Bale back but Vinicius and Benzema combined well again for the second goal and there might be a reluctance to break up a burgeoning partnership.
The opening half an hour was lacking in spark but came to life when Benzema darted in from the right, used Dani Carvajal as a wall and drove a left-footed shot past Gorka Iraizoz under the Girona bar.
Marcelo should have doubled the lead after a brilliant Brazilian combination with Vinicius, who dragged the ball one way then the other into the full-back’s path. Marcelo nutmegged Marc Muniesa but failed to finish.
Vinicius was involved in Benzema’s second too, weaving in from the left and rolling inside. Benzema took one touch and curled it low, inside the far post.
Bale came on and tested Iraizoz from range but Girona pulled one back when Porro nipped in behind and slid a finish under keylor Navas with 19 minutes left. But Girona’s revival was short-lived. Llorente drilled a shot into the corner from 25 yards to keep Madrid’s resurgence rolling on.
AFP