Real end 7-yr wait to reach quarter-finals

PARIS, Mar 17 (AFP): Real Madrid ended a seven-year wait to reach the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Lyon 3-0 on Wednesday, while Chelsea drew 0-0 with FC Copenhagen to seal their progress. Nine-time champions Real, eliminated at the last 16 stage for the last six seasons in a row, prevailed through goals from Marcelo, Lyon old boy Karim Benzema and Angel di Maria for a 4-1 aggregate success. "The bad run had to end sometime and it did tonight," said Real coach Jose Mourinho, a European champion with Inter Milan last season. "We won both games and deserved to go through as we were the better side." With Benzema's goal in the first leg having secured a 1-1 draw, Real took the lead in the 37th minute when Brazilian left- back Marcelo skipped through the Lyon defence to score. Benzema and Di Maria capitalised on hesitancy in the visiting back four in the second half to complete the victory-their first over Lyon in eight attempts-and nudge Real a step closer to a record 10th title. "We did what the manager wanted and went out to win the game," said Marcelo. "This victory gives us a lot of confidence and we owed it to the Madrid fans. We are not thinking about who we could get in the next round. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Chelsea kicked off their game at Stamford Bridge within touching distance of the last eight but received a shock when Copenhagen forward Dame N'Doye curled a free-kick against the woodwork. The English champions largely dominated the encounter, however, and came closest to a winning goal in the second period when John Obi Mikel headed against the crossbar from a Nicolas Anelka flick-on.