Real Madrid beats Valencia 2-0, Copa quarterfinal

MADRID (AP) -France striker Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Valencia in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.

Benzema opened the scoring in the 37th minute of the first leg match, finishing off a rapid counterattack after Michael Essien had picked out Sami Khedira on the left flank.

Valencia missed its best chance of the match when Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas was forced to parry a powerful shot from Roberto Soldado straight toward an advancing Jonas, who fired just wide in the 67th.

Madrid's second goal arrived six minutes later when Valencia's Jose Guardado turned the ball into his own net as he tried to clear a cross by Fabio Coentrao under pressure from Gonzalo Higuain.