REAL Madrid gave APOEL Nicosia a reality check in the biggest match of the unheralded Cypriot club’s history when they met Tuesday in the Champions League.
Looking to cause one of the greatest shocks in the history of the competition, APOEL came up short against the millionaires from Madrid, losing 3-0 at home to the nine-time European champions in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
All of Madrid’s goals came in the final 16 minutes at a rocking GSP Stadium in Nicosia, with France striker Karim Benzema scoring twice to take his Champions League haul to 25 goals in 41 matches and Brazilian playmaker Kaka scoring the other after coming off the bench.
“Real has advanced to the next phase of the Champions League, that’s for sure,” APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic said.
Chelsea also took a giant step toward the semifinals, beating Portuguese side Benfica 1-0 away courtesy of Salomon Kalou’s 75th-minute goal.
“It’s terrific, you couldn’t have hoped for a better result,” interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said. “Nothing is over – there is still another 90 minutes to play. But we will have home advantage.”
After producing one of the most diverse quarterfinal lineups in recent memory, the Champions League could easily end up having four of its usual contenders in the semifinals.
After beating Lyon in the last 16, the first Cypriot team to reach the Champions League’s knockout stages was looking to add an even more famous scalp on its historic run. But in the end the margin of victory could easily have been wider.
Mourinho, bidding to become the first coach to win the competition with three clubs, was able to celebrate a third goal approaching injury time when Benzema connected with a perfect pass from Mesut Oezil.
Di Matteo has made an impressive start to his temporary spell in charge following the firing of Andre Villas-Boas but would have faced heavy criticism had a much-changed lineup, missing stalwarts Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, lost against Benfica.
As it was, his selection gamble paid off, with Fernando Torres starting in place of Drogba up frontcrossing for Kalou to guide home a side-footed finish to mark a rare start for the Ivory Coast forward.
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