Substitute Zinedine Zidane scored in injury time Wednesday as Real Madrid downed Valencia 2-1 in the second leg of the Copa del Rey's quarterfinals and advanced to the semifinals 5-1 on aggregate.
Star striker Raul Gonzalez also scored as Madrid eliminated one of its biggest rivals and boosted its chances of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1993.
Substitute Xisco Munoz scored for Valencia midway through the second half.
In other games, second-division Alaves also reached the last four despite losing to Celta de Vigo 1-0. Alaves won 4-3 on aggregate.
Sevilla progressed after beating Atletico de Madrid 2-1. Sevilla, which has won the Copa del Rey three times but not since 1948, won 6-1 overall.
On Thursday, Zaragoza hosts FC Barcelona. Zaragoza leads 1-0.
The draw for the semifinals will be made on Friday. The games will be played over the next two weeks.
Valencia's chances of overcoming its 3-0 deficit from the first leg appeared to be boosted by the absences of suspended David Beckham and injured Roberto Carlos. Zidane, who has just recovered from a thigh injury, and goalkeeper Iker Casillas were also left on the bench.
But Madrid quickly killed off any hopes of a Valencia revival when Raul strode onto Ronaldo's defense-splitting pass in the 14th minute and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Andres Palop.
The goal left Valencia requiring five goals to advance, even though Rafa Benitez's team continued to battle gamely for the rest of the half.
Tempers flared in the 40th minute following a wild tackle by Valencia defender David Navarro on Luis Figo. Navarro appeared fortunate to only receive a yellow card.
The game continued its intensity after the interval even though both coaches made substitutions with their eye on the teams' weekend games in the Spanish league, where Madrid leads Valencia in the standings by two points.
Valencia leveled in the 74th minute when substitute Xisco nodded home after a header by striker Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer rebounded off the crossbar.
Zidane, who had replaced Raul in the 70th minute, earned Madrid victory just before the final whistle when his free kick bounced off Valencia midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo and into the net.
Alaves, which is in sixth place in the second division, added Celta to its previous first-division victims this season -- Real Sociedad and Valladolid.
African Cup
Striker Santos continued his sterling performance at the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday, scoring two goals and assisting on a third to help Tunisia beat Congo 3-0 and lead it into the quarterfinals.
Guinea could have joined the Carthage Eagles with a win over Rwanda but only managed a 1-1 draw with the outsider after wasting numerous chances and conceding a last-gasp equalizer.
After two games in Group A, Tunisia leads with six points. Guinea has four and Rwanda has one, while Congo has been eliminated with zero points. Tunisia plays Guinea and Rwanda is up against Congo in the final round of group matches on Sunday.
"Only victories count these days. It is a big satisfaction to go through," Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre said. "Today was our day."
Tunisia struggled in the first half, but was helped when Congo striker Lomana Lualua was sent off for a controversial foul. Hatem Trabelsi of Ajax came off the bench in the second half, and his pace on the right and well-timed crosses led to the first two goals.
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