Real Madrid edged towards a place in the King's Cup final as second-half goals from Santiago Solari and Raul earned them a 2-0 win over Sevilla in their semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Solari put Real ahead when he rifled the ball in from the edge of the area 10 minutes into the second half of what had been an evenly matched encounter.
The Argentine midfielder helped set up the second 15 minutes from time, winning the ball on the left and working it across for Raul to sweep low into the right-hand corner with a classy first-time finish.
Sevilla produced a typically gritty performance but failed to take their chances and Real will have a valuable lead going into next week's second leg.
Second-division Alaves host Real Zaragoza in the second semi-final, first leg on Thursday.
Missing leading striker Ronaldo, who was forced to pull out at the last minute because of illness, Real were guilty of a series of bad misses in the first half.
Zinedine Zidane created the first clear chance of the game, teeing the ball up for an unmarked Raul to smash high and wide from eight metres out.
QUICK RESPONSE
Sevilla, who dealt Real Madrid their worst defeat of the season when beating them 4-1 at home in the Spanish Primera Liga, were quick to respond.
Midfielder Marti sent a rising shot over the bar and, in the next attack, Dario Silva made room for himself on the left before shooting straight at Real keeper Cesar.
Real were caught out midway through the half when Julio Baptista burst past two defenders on his way into the area, but the Brazilian striker lost his footing under pressure from Raul Bravo.
Real upped the pressure in the final 10 minutes before the break, but Javier Portillo and Ivan Helguera both missed with close-range headers over the bar.
The game turned with Solari's spectacular finish in the 55th minute.
Given space on the left, the Argentine turned inside one defender on the edge of the area and lashed the ball across goalkeeper Esteban and into the roof of the net.
Real picked up a gear after the goal and Roberto Carlos, Guti and Zidane all carved out chances before Raul added the second.
Real midfielder David Beckham warned, however, that the tie is far from finished. "They showed great spirit and they are a very good team and going there is going to be hard. It's not over yet."
