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Madrid: Holders Atletico Madrid set up a mouthwatering Copa del Rey semi-final with city rivals Real Madrid after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Wednesday to win 3-1 on aggregate.

Barcelona also assured their place in the last four with a 5-1 victory over Levante at the Camp Nou to seal a 9-2 rout on aggregate.

In Bilbao, Aritz Aduriz had powered the hosts into a deserved lead four minutes before half-time and Athletic were only denied a bigger advantage at the break by two outstanding saves from Thibaut Courtois.

However, Atletico regrouped at the break and levelled 10 minutes after the restart when Raul Garcia smashed home Emiliano Insua's cross.

Diego Costa sealed their passage into the last four in the final stages as he slotted home his first goal of 2014 on the counter-attack to inflict Athletic Bilbao's first ever defeat at their San Mames ground, which they have used since the start of the season.

Atletico will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu, where they beat Real 2-1 in last year's final, for the first leg of the semi-final next week with the return to come at the Vicente Calderon the following week.

"In the first 30 minutes we were in control of the tie, if not the match," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.

"From then until half-time they had a great end to the half, but we came out strong in the second-half and got the goal which gave us confidence and strength."

Simeone's men will now face Real three times in little over three weeks in league and Cup.

However, they are unbeaten in four meetings against Madrid and Barcelona this season and the Argentine feels his side now believe they can compete with Spain's big two.

"This season we will play four more games against Barcelona and Real Madrid and that is good because it tests you more, but you also lose the fear of playing in those games."

Barcelona's passage into the semi-finals was far smoother as they thrashed Levante at a sodden and sparsely populated Camp Nou.

Sergi Roberto's early own goal had given the visitors some hope of an improbable comeback from last week's 4-1 defeat.

However, that was quickly extinguished as Adriano's long-range strike and Carles Puyol's thumping header gave Barca the lead on the night before half-time.

Two goals in quick succession after the break from close range by Alexis Sanchez extended the hosts lead.

Cesc Fabregas rounded off the scoring as his low effort beat Javi Jimenez at his near post 21 minutes from time.

Madrid: Real Madrid eased into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 win over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday to progress 2-0 on aggregate.

Jese Rodriguez got the only goal of the game after just eight minutes as Madrid set a club record by not conceding for the eighth consecutive game.

Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla managed to keep the score down as he frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo on a number of occasions.

However, it was to no avail as the visitors couldn't find a way through and ended with 10 men after Victor Sanchez was sent off late on for two bookable offences.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti praised the excellent start to 2014 made by his side's central defenders as they sealed an eighth win in January without conceding a single goal.

"I think that the system gives us confidence. We have good defensive balance because the whole team works to recover the ball quickly and the central defenders have been playing at a very high level."

Real will now face Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao in the last four with city rivals Atletico taking a 1-0 advantage into their second leg against the Basques on Wednesday.

Los Blancos also face high-flying Athletic in the league on Sunday and Ancelotti insisted that despite Jese netting the winner in the absence of the injured Gareth Bale, the Welshman will start at San Mames if he is fit.

"If Bale is fine then he will play, but that is not to say that Jese isn't another option because he is very dangerous at the moment.

"I don't care who we meet (in the next round) because both teams are in very good form. We all know everything about Atletico Madrid, but Athletic are playing very well too and it will be a very difficult and important tie."

Jese continued his case for more first team action as he confidently fired them ahead after being found by a fine long-range ball by Xabi Alonso.

Casilla could have done better on the goal, but he more than redeemed himself for the rest of the half as he made a series of saves, most notably from Ronaldo and Angel di Maria.

The visitors began to provide a threat of their own towards the end of the half and Pizzi was unlucky to see his sweetly-struck volley fly over the bar a minute before the break.

Casilla denied Ronaldo once more with another excellent stop at the beginning of the second period.

However, it was Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas who made the headlines in the second-half as he broke another club record by extending his own personal run without conceding a goal past 11 hours.

And any doubt over the result of the tie was ended when Sanchez was shown a second yellow card for handball 13 minutes from time.

Manchester: Manchester United manager David Moyes believes that the options he now has available in his squad will guarantee an improvement in his team's results.

Moyes was able to give club-record signing Juan Mata a debut in the 2-0 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday and strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney both returned from injuries against the Welsh club.

Van Persie had been absent since December 10 and Rooney had not featured since January 1, while the duo have started just seven of United's 23 Premier League matches together.

Mata's last appearance for Chelsea came in their 3-0 win at Southampton on New Year's Day and Moyes admits that all three of his first-choice forward players may have to top up their fitness during matches.

Rooney came on for Van Persie just after the hour against Cardiff, with Mata playing behind the main striker until he was taken off with five minutes remaining at Old Trafford.

But Moyes, who refused to give an update on the progress of Rooney's contract talks, has suggested he can use Mata off either flank in order to keep his two main strikers in the side.

"We'll get used to Juan and he'll get used to us," the United manager said. "It was good to get him and Robin together and we'll use Juan in different positions.

"I can play him in any role -- off the left or the right allows me to keep Robin and Wayne as a partnership, and he's also capable of playing 10 as well.

"I hope we'll play better, that would be the first thing, and we hope to create more chances and play better at Old Trafford, where we haven't been able to take our opportunities.

"Juan did really well and created some good openings for us. He's not played much for the last month and Wayne only started football training on Monday.

"The results with them will get much better and we need to get them in the right physical condition. They're in need of match practice and fitness and they'll need to get that in the game situation."

Van Persie registered his eighth league goal of the season after just six minutes before Ashley Young cut in from the left and scored United's second just before the hour to leave them six points off the Champions League places.

Moyes admits he is in a brighter mood as he prepares for a run of Premier League matches against Stoke City, Fulham, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, but the champions are still some distance from where he wants them to be.

"I want to be more convincing, I want to win better and play much better," he said.

"Don't think because we have won I have got a smile and am happy. I'm happy because we have got the three points, but for where I want to go and the vision I have got for how I want my team to go, I have got a long way to go."

Cardiff remain bottom of the Premier League table, but new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes his side have shown that they can pull out of trouble in their next few matches.

Solskjaer has completed the signings of Kenwyne Jones from Stoke and Fabio da Silva from United and is also close to a loan deal for United winger Wilfried Zaha.

Cardiff now face consecutive league matches against Norwich City, Swansea City, Aston Villa and Hull City, and Solskjaer believes the sequence of games represents an opportunity for his side.

"Against Arsenal, (Manchester) City and United, no one expected us to take much, but now we're in a different position," said the former United star.

"This month, with the home games we've got, it will be an important month. We've seen the team develop, but now it's about results and not performances.

"Hopefully Kenwyne Jones and Wilfried Zaha will give us some more oomph in the final third."

Liverpool: Daniel Sturridge's brace handed Liverpool the Merseyside bragging rights with a 4-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday that maintained their Anfield derby dominance.

Everton have not won at Liverpool since 1999 and the 222nd meeting between the two sides -- both previously unbeaten in the league in 2014 -- was effectively over by half-time, with Liverpool three goals up.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in his programme notes that this derby had "double significance", with vital points in the race to qualify for the Champions League at stake in addition to local pride.

But the Northern Irishman could probably not have envisaged the clinical manner in which his team would blow Roberto Martinez's men away, with a double from Sturridge and one each for captain Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

England striker Sturridge could even afford to miss a penalty as fourth-place Liverpool put four points between themselves and Everton in the Premier League table.

Liverpool made three changes as Simon Mignolet replaced Brad Jones in goal, Jon Flanagan returned for Martin Kelly at right-back, and Raheem Sterling was preferred to Victor Moses on the right flank.

Everton, meanwhile, were bolstered by the return of midfielder Ross Barkley from a broken toe.

Toffees captain Phil Jagielka had also recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up in the FA Cup victory over Stevenage and made his 200th league appearance alongside Antolin Alcaraz at the heart of the visitors' defence.

Barkley looked sharp in the opening stages and struck a swerving shot from distance that flew just over the crossbar, while Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was called into action moments later as he pushed a Suarez shot past the post.

Sturridge opened up the Everton defence in the 18th minute as he sent Sterling clear with a searching pass, but Howard came off his line quickly and blocked the winger's effort.

The hosts' spell of pressure earned them a goal three minutes later when Suarez's corner picked out Gerrard, who escaped his marker at the near post and headed home his eighth goal in Merseyside derbies.

Everton were subsequently forced to withdraw Romelu Lukaku due to injury, although without the Belgium international they still pressed for an equaliser, as Jagielka brought a save out of Mignolet.

However, Liverpool effectively made the result certain 10 minutes before half-time as Sturridge scored twice in the space of two minutes.

The 24-year-old striker was put through on goal by playmaker Philippe Coutinho in the 33rd minute and kept his composure to lift the ball over the advancing Howard.

Moments later the hosts added a third when Kolo Toure's long ball found Sturridge and with Howard off his line, the England man cleverly lobbed the ball over the American international and into the unguarded net.

Everton initially responded positively after half-time, with Mignolet forced to palm away a Leon Osman shot, but Liverpool remained hungry for goals and added a fourth five minutes into the second half.

Suarez dispossessed Jagielka just inside the Everton half and powered towards goal before coolly slotting past the exposed Howard.

Howard's misery continued when a penalty was given against him by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul on Sterling, but Sturridge, on a hat-trick, struck the spot-kick over the bar and into the Kop.

Suarez was angry with Sturridge just after the hour-mark when his strike partner selfishly went for goal from a difficult angle rather than square the ball across goal.

Everton briefly flickered into life with 15 minutes left when Steven Naismith crossed for Osman, but Mignolet snuffed out the danger.

London: Manchester United's record signing Juan Mata enjoyed a winning debut on Tuesday as his new club recorded a 2-0 victory at home to Cardiff City in the Premier League.

Leaders Arsenal, meanwhile, spurned an opportunity to move four points clear after drawing 2-2 at Southampton, but Liverpool tightened their grip on fourth place with a superb 4-0 defeat of derby rivals Everton.

Mata started the game at Old Trafford, three days after making a £37.1 million ($61.2 million, 44.8 million euros) move from Chelsea, as former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned to his old stomping ground as Cardiff manager.

Last season's top scorer Robin van Persie was also included in United's starting line-up, after seven weeks out with a thigh strain, and the Dutch striker broke the deadlock in the sixth minute.

Mata found Ashley Young with a raking pass and when his cross was headed against the bar by Antonio Valencia, Van Persie headed in at the second attempt after his initial header was parried by goalkeeper David Marshall.

Young added a fine second in the 59th minute, cutting in from the left flank and arrowing a drive into the bottom-right corner, before Wayne Rooney made his return from injury as a substitute for Van Persie.

United manager David Moyes was left to reflect on a satisfactory night, saying: "We kept a clean sheet, scored a couple of goals, got a couple of players back from injury, and gave Juan Mata his debut."

Mata, who claimed an assist for Young's goal, told the BBC: "The win was very important for the team. It was very exciting for me. The fans are unbelievable. The lads welcomed me very well."

On United's chances of a top-four finish, he added: "We will try until the end. We will never give up."

United, who had lost three of their previous five home league games, remain six points below the Champions League places, but they inched to within 12 points of Arsenal after the London club's slip-up at St Mary's.

Bidding to move four points clear of second-place Manchester City, Arsenal fell behind in the 21st minute when centre-back Jose Fonte headed in a left-wing cross from Luke Shaw.

The visitors sprang to life early in the second half, equalising through Olivier Giroud's clever back-heel and going ahead when Santi Cazorla drilled home, only for Adam Lallana to sweep in an equaliser two minutes later.

Arsenal's push for a late winner was undermined when midfielder Mathieu Flamini was sent off for a studs-up lunge at Morgan Schneiderlin.

Arsene Wenger's side are now at risk from City, who will take over at the top if they win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, while Chelsea could draw level with Arsenal if they win at home to West Ham United.

Reflecting on the matches awaiting his side's rivals, Arsenal manager Wenger said: "They have difficult games as well, and we took at least a point.

"It's not enough but considering the situation at half-time, we have to be content with it."

Liverpool moved three points clear of fifth-place Spurs and four points above sixth-place Everton with a memorable 4-0 victory in a one-sided Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard's 21st-minute header from Luis Suarez's corner broke the deadlock and a quick-fire brace from Daniel Sturridge put the game beyond Everton before half-time.

The England striker finished coolly from Philippe Coutinho's through ball in the 33rd minute before deftly lobbing Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard from the edge of the area two minutes later.

Suarez raced clear to add a fourth early in the second half, while Sturridge squandered an opportunity to complete his hat-trick by blazing a penalty over the crossbar.

"It's a massive victory over rivals close to us," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

"If you look at Everton, they've only conceded 11 goals away from home before tonight (Tuesday) and for us to get four and to maybe have had a few more is very pleasing."

France midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who is reported to be on the verge of a move to Paris Saint-Germain, was absent for Newcastle United as Alan Pardew's side recorded a 0-0 draw at Norwich City.

Both sides finished with 10 men after Newcastle striker Loic Remy and Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson were shown straight red cards following a late altercation.

Goals from Jonjo Shelvey and Chico Flores gave Swansea City a 2-0 win at home to relegation-threatened Fulham, while improving Crystal Palace climbed to 14th after an early Jason Puncheon goal saw them beat Hull City 1-0.