Xabi Alonso scored a spectacular goal for Bayern Munich to beat Darmstadt 1-0 and earn a place in the German Cup quarterfinals Tuesday. Alonso controlled a corner with his right foot and fired a drop kick into the upper corner for the only goal closing on halftime. Bayern labored to overcome a well-organized Darmstadt, and did not create many chances against the Bundesliga newcomer. Werder Bremen won 4-3 at Borussia Moenchengladbach to reach its first quarterfinal in six years. Bayer Leverkusen also advanced, by beating fourth-tier Unterhaching 3-1. Second-division Heidenheim beat third-tier Erzgebirge Aue 2-0 to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time. Bayern stayed on course for three titles this season thanks to the well-taken Alonso goal from about 25 meters. Robert Lewandowski also hit the post but Bayern made little out of its near monopoly of possession. Late in the match, Darmstadt threatened a couple of times but never put Bayern in real danger. Sevilla makes last 16 Sevilla, Espanyol, Real Betis and Deportivo La Coruna all advanced to the last 16 of the Copa Del Rey Tuesday to join already-qualified Barcelona and Cadiz. Deportivo held on for a 1-1 draw against second division Llagostera in their fourth round, second leg tie in Galicia for a 3-2 aggregate victory. Real Betis, 2-0 winners at home, was 3-1 down at Sporting Gijon in northern Spain before coming back to draw 3-3, and go through 5-3 on aggregate. Sevilla already had one foot into the last 16 after their 3-0 away win and easily advanced on front of its home crowd with a 2-0 success over Logrones. Espanyol, meanwhile, got off to a winning start under new Romanian coach Constantin Galca, coming back from a goal down to win 2-1, and advance 3-2 on aggregate. Holders Barcelona have already assured their place in the last 16 with a 6-1 thrashing of Villanovense. Real Madrid's expulsion from the competition for fielding an ineligible player against Cadiz, allowed the third division side to advance. Inter, Alessandria through League leader Inter Milan eased through to the Italian Cup quarterfinals by beating Cagliari 3-0, while third-division Alessandria also advanced after upsetting Genoa 2-1 Tuesday. Rodrigo Palacio, Marcelo Brozovic, and Ivan Perisic scored at San Siro to set up a quarterfinal against Napoli or Hellas Verona. Alessandria, which beat another top-flight side — Palermo — in the previous round, will face either Roma or Spezia after becoming the first third-division side to reach the last eight in 32 years. It is the furthest Alessandria has been since losing the 1936 final. Alessandria had to play the final 15 minutes and all of extra time with 10 men after Gianni Manfrin went off injured when all the substitutions were completed. Lille, Guingamp enter quarters Lille continued its resurgence under new boss Frederic Antonetti as they reached the quarterfinals of the French League Cup with a 1-0 win over second-tier Laval. Djibril Sidibe struck 11 minutes from time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to send the Ligue 1 side through and extend Lille's winning run to four matches in all competitions. Guingamp twice recovered from a goal down at home to Nice as Yannis Salibur netted at the end of normal time and again in extra time, cancelling out a pair of strikes from Alexandre Mendy, before converting the decisive penalty in a 4-3 shootout victory following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes. Wissam Ben Yedder grabbed a brace for Toulouse in a 3-1 win at 10-man Rennes, while Lorient eased past Ligue 2 leaders Dijon 3-0 with goals from Benjamin Jeannot, Romain Philippoteaux and Walid Mesloub.
