LONDON — Karim Benzema scored two late goals to help Real Madrid beat unheralded Cypriot team APOEL 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, while Chelsea also look good for the last four after a 1-0 win in Benfica.
APOEL was looking to cause one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition’s knockout stages but couldn’t hold out against the nine-time champions, with Benzema heading in the opener in the 74th minute from Kaka’s cross.
The Brazilian playmaker, on as a second-half substitute, scored from close range in the 82nd from compatriot Marcelo’s cross to make it 2-0 before Benzema wrapped up victory in the 90th.
Salomon Kalou grabbed a 75th-minute winner against the run of play for Chelsea — England’s sole remaining representative — in Portugal.
"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."
The two other quarterfinals are played on Wednesday, with reigning champion Barcelona visiting AC Milan and Marseille at home to Bayern Munich, which hosts the final at the Allianz Arena on May 19.
Either Marseille or Bayern will surely be facing Madrid, which gave APOEL a reality check on the biggest night of the home side’s history.
After beating Lyon in the last 16, the Cypriot team was looking to add an even more famous scalp on its historic run in the Champions League but Madrid gave an assured display that could easily have yielded a bigger margin of victory.
Benzema had somehow contrived to miss an open goal from five yards out before finally opening the scoring, diving to meet Kaka’s cross from the left with a glancing header.
Kaka gave Madrid more of a cutting edge after coming on and neatly finished off good work on the left wing by fellow substitute Marcelo to end APOEL’s hopes of a comeback.
Jose 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, his 25th goal in the Champions League in just 41 matches.
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 paid off, with Fernando Torres — starting in place of Drogba up front — crossing for Kalou to guide home a sidefooted finish to mark a rare appearance for the Ivory Coast forward.
"He’s come into the team after a long spell out, he got the goal and had a great game," Di Matteo said of Kalou. "I didn’t think it was a gamble but sometimes in life you have to take a little risk."
Benfica lacked composure in front of goal, with Oscar Cardozo, Bruno Cesar and Jardel all wasting good chances.
