Barcelona 2 - 2 Real Madrid (Cup Quarterfinals 2nd Leg)

One more goal. That's all Real Madrid needed to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. The Whites gave a masterclass in pride and courage, deserving to score the opener from several clear chances. Barcelona eventually netted two in the last five minutes of the first half, but Real never gave up, making a comeback and coming close to netting a third that would have given them the pass.

Football was unfair with Real Madrid, who just 15 seconds into the game had a clamorous chance to score when Higuain's shot was off target when he was facing Pinto alone. A perfect counterattack begun by Kaka with a pass down the left for Ronaldo also proved dangerous, but Alves and Pinto managed to clear the striker's shot (10'). The Whites reached their opponent's box with ease and they could have scored again on the 18-minute mark had the referee awarded a penalty when Busquets used his hands to clear a Pepe header.

The Madridistas were setting the pace to the match and managed to silence the stands. Ozil gave them another scare with an amazing 25-meter shot that hit the crossbar (25'), and Pinto managed to clear an Higuain strike inside the box two minutes later. It was a miracle that Barça hadn't yet conceded a goal, and fate had it they would end up scoring the opener from the first chance they had through Pedro, who finished off a Messi pass (42'). It was a harsh blow and Alves banked a second strike from outside the box in injury time.

Real Madrid never give up and came out from the dressing room fighting for a comeback when the crowd thought it was all over. Mourinho refreshed his side with Granero, Callejon and Benzema, who came on for Lass, Higuain and Kaka. Their first strike finally arrived when Ozil served a perfect pass through the lines to Ronaldo, who overtook Puyol, dribbled past Pitno and sent the ball in with his right foot.

The crowd became a little restless and was soon silenced when Benzema pulled off a masterpiece by receiving a head pass from Callejon, sending the ball over Puyol and scoring the equaliser with his right foot. Mourinho's men continued looking for a winner and nearly found it again through Benzema, who dribbled past Puyol but didn't manage to net another goal.

Summary

Stadium: Nou Camp
Attendance: 95,400
Goals: 1-0, min.42: Pedro. 2-0, min.46+: Alves. 2-1. min.68: Cristiano Ronaldo. 2-2, min.71: Benzema.

Real Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona (Cup Quarterfinals 1st Leg)

Real Madrid never give up; it's in their DNA and history. That's why Mourinho's men will look for a comeback at the Camp Nou next Wednesday. The Whites are only one goal behind and will look to turn the aggregate around to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. Jose Mourinho used a surprising starting eleven that included Altintop and Carvalho. Real Madrid gave a great performance in the first half and scored the opener through Cristiano Ronaldo, regarding whom all doubts should be dispelled. The visitors were more effective after half-time and turned the score around. Benzema had a chance to net an equaliser but sent the ball to the post after defeating Pinto.

Barcelona's comeback begun with a Puyol's goal

Real Madrid knew exactly what to do from the start: playing together and looking to surprise Barcelona with long passes capitalising on the speed of Ronaldo and Benzema. It didn't matter that Guardiola's men kept possession as long as they didn't prove dangerous up front. Benzema served Ronaldo a long assist in the 11th minute and the striker defeated Pinto with a great shot. Two ensuing saves by Casillas avoided Barça from drawing the encounter before half-time.

Puyol headed in a corner-kick at the start of the second half (48'), which greatly hurt the Whites and forced them to try for a comeback. Altintop served a great cross on the 57-minute mark that Benzema unluckily headed towards a post when Pinto would have been unable to clear the ball. Mourinho made Ozil and Callejon come on for Higuain and Lass looking for a reaction, more possession and a deeper attack.

Real Madrid moved their lines forward looking for another strike, leaving more spaces for Barcelona to counterattack in. Abidal eventually scored the winner after receiving a pass into the box from Messi (76') and things looked increasingly harder for Real, who constantly searched for an equaliser. These great efforts exhausted the players, but the Bernabeu continued to spur them on until the final whistle.

Real must now focus on La Liga, in which they top the table with a five-point cushion over Barça. They will face Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu on Sunday and will search for three points to seal the first leg with a comfortable lead. They will face Barça in the return leg of the Copa on Wednesday. No one should think they will toss the trophy aside: that's not what the team's history and philosophy are all about. Mourinho's men will look to reach the semis in Barcelona; the defending champs are not about to let go easily of the trophy.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 83,500
Goals: 1-0, m.11: Cristiano. 1-1, m.48: Puyol. 1-2, m.76: Abidal.

Malaga 0 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish Cup Last 16 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid reached the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey by defeating Malaga 1-0 at La Rosaleda. Mourinho's men were clearly superior to Pellegrini's, who barely had any chances on goal. The Whites will face either Osasuna or Barcelona in the next round.

Benzema was again the man of the match

Arbeloa and Pepe made the starting eleven in defence. Real Madrid were slightly more relaxed thanks to the one goal advantage on aggregate they had thanks to the 3-2 win in the first leg at the Bernabeu. It was up to Malaga to take risks, but they didn't try too hard for goals and the Whites ended up keeping possession of the ball. Sergio Ramos had the best chance to score from a header that missed the mark by inches (44'). Khedira had to leave the pitch one minute before that due to injury and was replaced by Ozil.

Marcelo came on for Kaka in the second half and Madrid continued to keep possession of the ball. They started to have chances on goal and a Ronaldo header in the 62nd minute was masterfully cleared by Caballero.

Benzema came on for Higuain in the 68th minute and it took him only three minutes to score the winner by nutmegging the keeper after receiving and Ozil assist. Malaga received a harsh blow and tried to make a comeback, but Real handled their lead very well and even came close from netting a second strike through a Ramos heel shot that was cleared by the keeper (80'). Arbeloa was sent off on the 87-minute mark and Toulalan had a chance to score the equaliser three minutes later.

Looking to keep their five-point lead, Real Madrid are now focusing on their next league clash against Mallorca, who scored six goals tonight against Real Sociedad.

Summary

Stadium: La Rosaleda
Attendance: 27,000
Goals: 0-1, M. 71: Benzema

Real Madrid 3 - 2 Malaga (Spanish Cup Last 16 1st Leg)

The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a typical Copa del Rey match tonight, in which Malaga started winning 2-0 by half-time, forcing Real Madrid to come back to snatch a 3-2 victory in a splending second half.

Benzema gives life to the champion

Iker Casillas was a starter again in the Copa del Rey and Higuain was positioned as centre forward. Real Madrid had a less intense start to the clash than usual, while Malaga handled the ball well, hardly experienced trouble in defence and were led by Isco's speed and verticality in attack.

Malaga scored the opener in a corner-kick. Cazorla served the ball and an unmarked Sergio Sanchez netted a header (9'). The Whites suffered a blow but gradually had more chances on goal; Ronaldo had the best on the 27-minute mark, but Caballero cleared the ball. Malaga scored again one minute later from another corner-kick, this time finished off by Demichelis.

Forced to react, Mourinho made Ozil, Khedira and Benzema come on after half-time, and the team worked hard to make a comeback. Cristiano and Higuain came close to finishing off a pass on the goal-line (50') and the team started to dominate the encounter.

Ten magical minutes followed. Khedira scored the first goal for the locals by powerfully entering the area and defeating Caballero with a great crossed shot (68'). The crowd went wild and encouraged its team. A huge mistake by Sergio Sanchez in a pass back to Caballero prompted an Higuain steal and goal with hardly an angle on the target (69'). The equaliser forced Malaga to only focus on defending while waiting for the match to end.

Real Madrid scored the winner on the 77-minute mark through Benzema, who netted a great goal after receiving a spectacular assist from Higuain. The Whites managed to turn the score around in an extremely complicated match and the crowd went wild. It was a spectacular start to 2012 and Real Madrid have the aggregate advantage in the tie, which will be decided next week at La Rosaleda.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 83,500
Goals: 0-1, m.9: Sergio Sánchez. 0-2, m.28: Demichelis. 1-2, m.68: Khedira. 2-2, m.69: Higuaín. 3-2, m.77: Benzema.

Real Madrid 5 - 1 Ponferradina (Spanish Cup Last 32 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid did their homework before leaving the holidays: they top the league table with a three-point cushion, they've made it to the UCL Last 16 having the best run in the history of the championship's group stage, and they've also reached the Copa del Rey Last 16. Mourinho's men sealed 2011 brilliantly, looking to keep the streak up throughout 2012.

Callejon's Cup

Many new faces made the starting lineup, including academy left back Casado. Mourinho wanted to give other players a chance to shine, but he still used Pepe, Ozil, Khedira and Benzema in the starting eleven. The Whites took things slowly against Ponferradina, who intended to leave a good impression at the Bernabeu.

Real kept possession and eventually scored through Callejon, who defeated the keeper with a crossed shot after receiving a long pass from Ozil. Ponferradina did not give up and tried to stand their ground. The match unfolded without much ado until Callejon nearly scored again on the 25-minute mark sending the ball to the crossbar. The Madridistas' second strike arrived just before half-time when Sahin headed in a corner-kick served by Ozil (44').

Right after half-time, Granero served a free-kick that was cleared by the goalkeeper. The ball was picked up by Varane, who tallied the third strike (48'). Ponferradina tried to fight back and looked for a goal of their own to save face, eventually finding it through Acoran, who defeated Adan from outside the box.

The strike encouraged the visitors to look for another goal, but Real Madrid continued to control the match albeit without having many more chances to score. Mourinho allowed the academy's Nacho to come on for Casado. Benzema then had a couple chances to tally a fourth, but he was unlucky.

The French striker was replaced by Joselu in the 77th minute and the youth teamer only needed 20 seconds to net the fourth after receiving a pass from Callejon on the goal-line. Pacheco came on for Adan a few minutes later (82'), becoming the 14th academy player to make his official debut with Mourinho.

Callejon sealed the match with another goal assisted by Sahin, and he nearly scored a third of his own had it not been by a good save from Orlando.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 52,000
Goals: 1-0, m.25: Callejón. 2-0, m.44: Sahin. 3-0, m.48: Varane. 3-1, m.53: Acorán. 4-1, m.78: Joselu. 5-1, m.88: Callejón.

Ponferradina 0 - 2 Real Madrid (Spanish Cup Last 32 1st Leg)

Jose Mourinho had said he was going to us a side capable of earning a good result to allow his team to seal the tie at the Bernabeu next week, and that's just what fans saw against Ponferradina. Callejon was the man of the match and scored a goal. The other was netted by Cristiano Ronaldo. The locals fought hard, but the Whites eventually proved their superiority despite being down to ten men in the last 22 minutes after Albiol was sent off.

Callejon was the man of the match

Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Higuain, Marcelo and Khedira made the starting lineup. Ponferradina were extremely motivated, fought for every ball and put pressure all over the pitch, but they were bound to lower the pace of their performance eventually. Meanwhile, Real Madrid remained calm, controlled the ball and gradually started to have chances to score. Cristiano nearly netted the opener but Quintana cleared his first shot (21'). The Portuguese came close to finishing off a good cross from Callejon two minutes later, and the midfielder eventually tallied the first strike on the 28-minute mark following a pass into the box by Khedira.

The locals' spirit seemed crushed after the goal and Varane nearly scored a header immediately after it. Yuri continually tried to get close to Adan's goal, but the Whites' defence was solid throughout.

Ponferradina had the same drive after half-time and Domenech even hit the crossbar with a long shot (50'). Real Madrid were patient and played a slower game than usual, but were in control nonetheless. Albiol was sent off on the 68-minute mark with a double booking, making Mourinho react by bringing Granero and Ramos on for Sahin and Kaka.

Greater numbers gave the locals wings and the crowd began to drive them on, but this made them leave open spaces that Real used to their advantage, eventually scoring a second goal when a long pass from Higuain was picked up by Ronaldo, who defeated Quintana with a crossed shot (73'). Four minutes later, the Portuguese striker was replaced by the academy's Jese, who therefore made his official debut with the first team.

The locals looked to make a comeback in the final minutes to no avail. The crowd gave their team a standing ovation at the end of the clash given their great efforts against Real Madrid.

Summary

Stadium: El Toralin
Attendance: 8,500
Goals: 0-1, m.28: Callejón. 0-2, m.73: Cristiano Ronaldo.