BARCELONA — Real Madrid continued its impressive start to the new year with Karim Benzema giving it a 1-0 victory in the King's Cup quarterfinal first-leg tie away to Espanyol Tuesday. Benzema's 25th-minute goal meant Real has come out on top in each of its six games since Christmas, a burst of form that has seen it close the gap to just one point behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga. Espanyol has a good record against Real in the cup and knocked it out the last time the pair met in the 1999-2000 season, but Carlo Ancelotti's side put itself in the driving seat with a solid performance. It was a spirited display from Espanyol but it will take something special for it to turn the tie around at the Bernabeu. The winner could play holder Atletico Madrid in the semis if it comes through its tie with Athletic Bilbao while Barca, on the other side of the draw, faces Levante. “Espanyol made it difficult especially at the end and this was a good result for us,” full back Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters. Roma gains revenge on Juve A late strike by Gervinho was enough to put AS Roma into the Italian Cup semifinals with a tense 1-0 win over league title rival Juventus at the Olympic stadium Tuesday. The Ivorian, who has been criticized for his lack of quality in front of goal, met Kevin Strootman's cross with an acrobatic finish 11 minutes from time to win a tight, niggly tie. The victory gives Rudi Garcia's side a measure of revenge for its 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Juve in Serie A earlier this month. Roma trails the champion by eight points. In the two-legged semifinal, the Giallorossi will face one of its rivals, Napoli or Lazio, who meet at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples next Wednesday. In the other quarterfinals, AC Milan will look to continue its winning start under its former player Clarence Seedorf against Udinese Wednesday, while Siena travels to Fiorentina for a Tuscan derby Thursday. — Agencies
