<p>   Real Madrid and Chelsea took giant strides towards the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday as they both recorded away wins in their quarter-final first leg matches.</p>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   A double from French striker Karim Benzema inspired nine-time winners Real to a 3-0 victory over Cypriot surprise packages APOEL Nicosia and all but ensured a last four spot against the winners of Marseille and Bayern Munich.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   A second-half goal from Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Portuguese outfit Benfica - ironically the only side playing on Tuesday that didn&#39;t field a Portuguese player in their starting line-up - to inflict the hosts first home defeat in Europe this term.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div>   <img alt="Salomon Kalou, Fernando Torres" src="/imagedata/2012/mar/kalou_new.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 633px; " /></div>  <div>   Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou (right) celebrates with his teammateu00a0Fernando Torres (left) after scoring against Benfica. Pic/AFP</div>  <div>   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   It puts the English side in a strong position for next week&#39;s second leg and a semi-final against either holders Barcelona or AC Milan.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   APOEL had worked wonders to reach this stage - unprecedented for a Cypriot club - but their limitations were painfully exposed by a Real side bursting with superstars the hosts lacked.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   APOEL&#39;s tactic of holding out for a draw - they failed to muster a shot on goal - worked until well into the second-half but then Benzema redeemed himself for a terrible miss in the first-half.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   The Frenchman broke the deadlock with just over a quarter of an hour remaining with a diving header from substitute Kaka&#39;s left-wing cross.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   Kaka scored the second after great work down the left by fellow Brazilian Marcelo.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   Benzema added a third shortly before the final whistle, tapping home after a superb pass from Mesut Ozil.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   Real coach Jose Mourinho, bidding to win the trophy for a third time with a different team having won with Porto and Inter Milan, was pleased with his team&#39;s performance.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;I am happy because my team took to the task seriously and dominated the game against a team that gave us a lot of headaches,&quot; said Mourinho.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;They made life difficult for us, with their fantastic tactics and their extraordinary team spirit.&quot;</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   Kalou&#39;s goal in Lisbon puts Chelsea firmly on course to reach their sixth Champions League semi-final in nine seasons and gives interim coach Roberto Di Matteo an unexpected chance of collecting two pieces of silverware as they are also in the FA Cup semi-finals.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;It&#39;s terrific, you couldn&#39;t have hoped for a better result,&quot; a delighted Di Matteo said.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;I thought we looked good defensively. For 90 minutes we had to run and tackle, and I had to select a team that had the energy to compete.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;Nothing is over. There is still another 90 minutes to play. But we will have home advantage and we will try and qualify.&quot;</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   Goalscorer Kalou said Chelsea&#39;s united dressing room had made victory possible.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;We played as a team and when you play as a team it makes it easier to win,&quot; he said. &quot;Any goal is important. I&#39;m just happy to have scored.&quot;</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   However, Chelsea&#39;s former Benfica midfielder Ramires was circumspect about their chances of wrapping up the last four spot.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;We have to remain calm, because Benfica will undoubtedly give us a hard match in the second leg,&quot; said the 25-year-old Brazilian.</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   u00a0</div>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   &quot;We have to keep our feet on the ground because there are still 90 minutes to play and I know the strength of Benfica. We can&#39;t party too early.&quot;</div>

Real Madrid and Chelsea defeated their opponents  APOEL Nicosia and Benfica respectively in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals ties. While French striker Karim Benzema inspired Real to a 3-0 victory over APOEL, it was second-half goal from Salomon Kalou that gave Chelsea a 1-0 win against Benfica.

Real and Chelsea move closer to Champions League semi-final berths

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Real and Chelsea move closer to Champions League semi-final berths

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