MADRID, Jan 11 (AP): Real Madrid advanced to a Copa del Rey quarterfinal matchup against Barcelona after Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero�s error gave the defending champions a 1-0 victory on Tuesday.
Caballero�s standout performance was spoiled when he tried to hold Karim Benzema�s low shot but let it slip through his arms and between his legs in the 72nd minute, sending Madrid through 4-2 on aggregate.
Caballero slammed his hands on the ground in frustration after the goal, which was Benzema�s fourth goal in three games and came from his first touch after having replaced Gonzalo Higuain minutes earlier.
The goalkeeper had been unbeatable before that, tipping Cristiano Ronaldo�s point-blank header over the bar in the 63rd minute.
�We played an intelligent game tonight. It was a difficult series and we showed a lot of effort to win it,� Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.
Madrid seems certain to face Barcelona in the last eight with the Catalans enjoying a 4-0 lead against Osasuna heading into Thursday�s return away leg.
If Barcelona advances, the two-legged series would mean another pair of �clasicos,� bringing the total to nine in about nine months. Madrid�s sole victory in its past 12 matches against its biggest rival was last season�s cup final.
Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa was sent off after being booked for the second time in the 88th, and Malaga midfielder Jeremy Toulalan nearly scored from a header two minutes later.
Mourinho said midfielder Sami Khedira was not badly injured despite leaving the game in the first half clutching his right leg.
Also, third-tier team Mirandes scored late to draw 1-1 at Racing Santander and continue its historic run by advancing 3-1 on aggregate. Mallorca rallied to beat Real Sociedad 6-1 to win their series 6-3 overall.
At El Sardinero stadium, Pedro Munitis scored from Alexandros Tzolis� 34th-minute pass to give topflight Santander a chance at rallying from the 2-0 first-leg loss. But Santander�s Bernardo Zuniga was sent off for a second yellow card early in the second half and Pablo Infante, who works in a bank as his day job, scored his fourth goal of the competition from the spot in the 72nd to seal Mirandes� first quarterfinal appearance.
Mallorca looked likely to exit after Sociedad went ahead 3-0 on aggregate following Diego Ifran�s 17th-minute opener.
Chori Castro started the improbable comeback by scoring from a free kick in the 34th, before putting the hosts ahead seven minutes later after Israel striker Tomer Mahed and Jose Carlos Nunes had scored.
Alejandro Alfaro and Hemed scored second-half goals for Mallorca.
Mirandes will look to continue its improbable run against Espanyol or Cordoba. Espanyol leads the second-division club 2-1 going into Wednesday�s match. Mallorca will play either Athletic Bilbao or third-tier team Albacete after they drew 0-0 to start their series.
Also on Wednesday, second-division club Alcorcon leads Levante 2-1. The winner will play Valencia or Sevilla. Valencia leads 1-0.