LONDON, Dec 19: Bayern Munich and Inter Milan recorded identical 2-0 victories on Tuesday to advance to the quarter-finals of the German and Italian Cups respectively.
Bayern overcame a red card for Franck Ribery to win at Augsburg and Inter beat Serie B side Hellas Verona while Malaga needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Oguchi Onyewu to secure a draw 1-1 at third-tier Eibar in a re-arranged Copa del Rey last-16 first-leg tie.
Ribery set up Mario Gomez for Bayern’s opening goal in the first-half before being sent off for slapping an opponent just after half-time and Xherdan Shaqiri settled their nerves late on, slotting in after being set up by Thomas Mueller.
The win wrapped up a good few months for Bayern, who have a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga.
“Overall I am satisfied with our season so far because we have been playing very well over long periods,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters. “It cannot really get much better than that.”
Schalke 04 continued their dismal run of form as the 2011 German Cup winners crashed out of this season’s competition beaten 2-1 by second division Mainz.
Third division side Kickers Offenbach claimed a top level scalp with a 2-0 home win over Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf while Freiburg also advanced with a 1-0 victory over third-tier Karlsruhe SC.
Inter scored both their goals in the second-half at the San Siro.
Antonio Cassano put 2011 cup winners ahead after taking a pass from Fredy Guarin before the Colombian midfielder scored with a free-kick that deflected in off Verona’s wall.
Inter played the final 10 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi was carried off on a stretcher with an injury, as the home side had used all three of its substitutions. Forward Rodrigo Palacio ended the match in goal, and performed admirably by saving a header.
US defender Onyewu scored three minutes into injury-time for Malaga after Eibar, who eliminated Athletic Bilbao in the previous round, outplayed their top-flight rivals and had gone ahead with a goal from defender Txemi Anibarro.
The La Liga side, who lie fourth in the standings and who have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League in their maiden campaign, had one eye on Saturday’s league visit of Real Madrid and fielded a weakened side.
“It was a hotly contested match on a pitch impossible to play on,” Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said. “The tie is wide open.
The fact we scored away from home is important, but anyone can win the return leg.”—Agencies