Real deal in the Champions League

Madrid: With Real Madrid looking beaten and on the verge of elimination after a fierce comeback by defending champions Chelsea, Karim Benzema came up big once again in the Champions League. Having scored a hat-trick in the first leg to give Madrid a 3-1 lead, Benzema spoiled the English team’s comeback by netting the decisive goal in the extra-time on Tuesday to put the Spanish club back into the semifinals. After trailing 3-0 at home, Madrid pulled two goals back to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory despite a 3-2 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. In Munich, as the final whistle blew Villarreal’s substitutes raced onto the field to join the teammates who ousted the six-time European champions Bayern Munich with a 2-1 win on aggregate. AP