Copa del Rey: Benzema scores two as Real Madrid reach semis
Karim Benzema continued his fine recent form with two first-half strikes against Girona as Los Blancos sealed a 7-3 aggregate win on Thursday.
Girona 1-3 Real Madrid (3-7 on agg.): as it happened
Girona vs Real Madrid: preview
Real Madrid will be out to reach the Copa del Rey last four for the first time in five years when they visit Girona in the second leg of the sides' quarter-final this evening (21:30 CET).
Not since they beat Barcelona at Mestalla to lift the trophy in 2014 have the 19-time winners made it to the semi-finals of Spain's domestic cup competition.
Real Madrid yet to lose Copa tie after winning home leg 4-2
Madrid go to Montilivi very much in the driving seat in the tie, after goals by Lucas Vázquez, Sergio Ramos (2) and Karim Benzema gave Santiago Solari's men a 4-2 first-leg advantage at the Bernabéu last week.
And Copa history is certainly on their side: they have progressed to the next round on both occasions that they have taken a such a lead into an away second leg.
Girona may prioritise LaLiga amid recent struggles
Meanwhile, Girona may be enjoying a club-record Copa run - they have never previously qualified for the quarter-finals - but they are also in the midst of a eight-game winless streak in LaLiga that has left them just three points clear of the relegation zone.
And with that in mind, coach Eusébio Sacristán is expected to prioritise their crucial top-flight trip to Eibar this weekend and name a much-changed side tonight.
Valencia, Betis and Barcelona already in last-four hat
The winners of the tie will join Valencia, Real Betis and Barcelona in Friday's semi-final draw, which you can follow right here on AS English.