Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (C, top) heads the ball during their Spanish King's Cup match against Osasuna in Madrid Thursday. — Reuters MADRID — Real Madrid overcame some uncharacteristic poor finishing from Cristiano Ronaldo to beat Osasuna 2-0 in the opening leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 match Thursday. Ronaldo failed to connect on an ample number of opportunities at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. But Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored in each half for Madrid to come out of the first leg with the firm advantage. Benzema got up to head home Luka Modric's free kick in the 19th minute before combining with Ronaldo to find Jese, who fired a rising shot past goalkeeper Asier Riesgo on the hour mark. Also, Real Sociedad and Villarreal, and Rayo Vallecano and Levante played out scoreless draws. One night after Lionel Messi marked his return from a two-month injury layoff with two goals in Barcelona's 4-0 win against Getafe, Ronaldo looked more like the Spanish league star who had been out. Madrid struck soon after Jese looked to have provoked a penalty from Riesgo, and the opener freed up more space for Madrid's attack with Gareth Bale also dangerous providing crosses from the right side. While Riesgo did deny Ronaldo in the 35th, the Portugal international headed high over goal moments after Benzema also headed wide from inside the box. Modric orchestrated much of Madrid's attack with Xabi Alonso sitting out to injury, the Croatia midfielder spotting Benzema's and Ronaldo's streaking runs into the area only for both forwards to miss. Bale crossed to Ronaldo in the 58th but he failed to control well and Riesgo was able to catch his softly tapped volley. While Ronaldo did well to turn provider for Jese as Madrid capitalized on an Osasuna turnover, the Ballon d'Or hopeful was hanging from the crossbar and screaming in frustration following a wide free kick wide by tapping another volleyed chance wide in the 61st. Ronaldo's desperation to score saw him rise high above Benzema in the 62nd only to collapse onto the France striker, sending the two of them barreling to the ground with another effort wasted. Osasuna had only one scoring opportunity, just before the half, but Oier Sanjuro somehow mishit from inside the area with time and the right side of goal beckoning. In other round of 16, first-leg matches, it was: Valencia 1, Atletico Madrid 1; Racing Santander 1, Almeria 1; Alcorcon 1, Espanyol 0; Real Betis 1, Athletic Bilbao 0. Udinese shocks Inter A goal from Brazilian Maicosuel gave Udinese a surprise 1-0 Italian Cup win over Inter Milan Thursday while AS Roma also reached the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria. Maicosuel finished off an incisive passing move with a first-time shot from close range just after the half-hour mark to deny visiting Inter a likely derby tie with AC Milan in the last eight. Massimiliano Allegri's Milan takes on Serie B side Spezia at the San Siro Wednesday. Udinese's win is a boost for Francesco Guidolin's side which is 13th in Serie A having lost 10 of its 18 matches. Inter, sixth in the league, dominated the tie but struggled to create chances. Coach Rudi Garcia's Roma, chasing a 10th Italian Cup trophy, will face Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico on Jan. 21 after Vasileios Torosidis tapped the ball into the net for the host in the sixth minute. It was an impressive team performance by Roma on new signing Radja Nainggolan's debut. The tie with Juve will be a chance for revenge for Roma after its 3-0 defeat by the Serie A champion Sunday. — Agencies
