4th April, 2012
Nine-time champions Real Madrid qualified for the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, beating APOEL Nicosia 5-2 in their quarter-final second-leg clash and by 8-2 on aggregate.
The Spanish giants will meet Germany’s Bayern Munich in the final four.
Chelsea also qualified, beating 10-man Benfica 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, making the victory 3-1 on aggregate.
A penalty from Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a first-half lead before the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute as captain Maxi Pereira was sent off for a second bookable offence by Slovenian referee Damir Skomina.
However, Javi Garcia levelled with six minutes remaining only for Raul Meireles to ensure the London club progressed with an injury-time winner.
Chelsea will square it up with defending champion, Barcelona of Spain which knocked out the Italian giant, AC Milan, 3-1, with two of Barca’s goals being penalties awarded in controversial circumstances in the first half of the game.