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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Real Madrid into Copa del Rey semi-finals as Karim Benzema stars in Girona win

Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid beat Girona 3-1 on Thursday night - and 7-3 on aggregate - to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Real won the first leg 4-2 at the Bernabeu to set themselves up with a two-goal advantage for the second leg, and Benzema eased any early nerves with a fine first-half brace.

Benzema - who struck twice in a 4-2 weekend LaLiga win at Espanyol - was off the mark again after 27 minutes, curling home a neat finish after great build-up play.

The 31-year-old all but ended the game as a contest two minutes before the interval with another curling effort into the net after good work from Vinicius.

Girona needed four goals by this point, and got one back through Pedro Porro with 19 minutes to play.

But Real ended any brief hopes of a fightback four minutes later as Marcos Llorente finished well after a driving run towards the box.

(AP)

The win sends Real into the pot for the semi-final draw along with Clasico rivals Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia.

The draw will take place on Friday lunchtime, and you can follow it as it happens LIVE with Standard Sport.

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