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Real Madrid into Copa del Rey quarterfinals

By The Assam Tribune

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.

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