Ilkay Gundogan (L) scores Manchester City's first goal against Everton during their FA Cup match in Liverpool, England, March 20, 2021. /CFP
Manchester City's quadruple bid remained intact as late goals by Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne secured a 2-0 win at Everton in their English Football Association (FA) Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Everton erected a blue wall for most of the game and managed to frustrate Pep Guardiola's side until Gundogan scored in the 84th minute for his 16th goal of the season.
Late substitute De Bruyne then made City's passage safe with a clinical finish in the 90th minute.
Kevin De Bruyne (R) scores Manchester City's second goal against Everton during their FA Cup match in Liverpool, England, March 20, 2021. /CFP
City dominated possession but Everton defended deep and their third-choice keeper Joao Virginia made some fine saves.
"It was a really tough game. We saw the commitment from Everton, how focused they were, they defended really aggressively," Guardiola said.
"It was one of the toughest games we've played in the last four months."
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal against Celta during their La Liga match in Vigo, Spain, March 20, 2021. /CFP
In La Liga, Karim Benzema starred again in Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Benzema continued his scintillating form at the Vigo's Balaidos stadium by scoring twice to make it 10 goals in his last 10 games, before he set up Marco Asensio to add a third in injury-time.
Many in Zidane's squad will now join up with their national teams on Monday but Benzema will remain in Madrid, with the 33-year-old still sidelined by France after his alleged role in a plot to blackmail French footballer Mathieu Valbuena in 2015.
"How can you understand it? I don't understand it, you don't understand it, there are many people who don't understand it," Zidane talked about Benzema's exclusion from the French national team. "What he did today was spectacular."
(With input from agencies)