Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo vies with APOEL players during the Champions League second leg quarter final, in Madrid, on Wednesday. (AFP)

London: Angel Di Maria’s late goal for Real Madrid against APOEL Nicosia will have been the icing on the cake for coach Jose Mourinho, as it appeared to signal the return to fitness of one of his key forwards.

The pacy Argentine winger completed a 5-2 thrashing of the Champions League debutants with a delightful lob on Wednesday and he should be firing on all cylinders by the time they meet Bayern Munich in the semi-finals later this month.

Also, Chelsea will face Barcelona in their sixth, and arguably toughest, semi-final in nine years knowing that another failure could close the door on their hopes of even playing in the competition next season.

The Londoners went through with a 3-1 aggregate success against Benfica in the quarter finals after a jittery 2-1 home win and will face the holders and favourites for a place in the Munich final.

Di Maria is still one of the side’s highest providers of assists despite having sidelined with a string of niggling muscle injuries since the turn of the year and he has only started 12 league games and three in the Champions League.

“I suffered a lot after having a relapse on my injury and it has been very tough.” Di Maria told reporters after coming on as a substitute to play a lively 35 minutes. I thought it was the end of the season for me but I am back in time for the most important games.”

Kaka and Jose Callejon also netted, as did ever-present leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who bagged a brace, and Mourinho was able to rest regulars such as striker Karim Benzema and midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mesut Oezil.

“The competition in the squad is very good,” said Kaka, one of the world’s most expensive players who is not guaranteed a place in the starting XI. “Obviously there are players who are decisive but our strength has been the group.”

A Champions League semi-final between two clubs who have won the competition a total of 13 times presents a huge challenge for Real and for Mourinho who has a chance to win a fourth European Cup with a fourth club.

Mourinho guided Inter Milan to a 2-0 victory over the Germans in the 2010 Champions League final at the Bernabeu just before he left to join Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, who have won only one of their previous five semis, were largely ponderous against a Benfica side who played for most of the match with 10 men after stand-in skipper Maxi Pereira was sent off after 40 minutes.

A Frank Lampard penalty had Chelsea in control but Benfica made it 1-1 on the night through Javi Garcia after 85 minutes and after they missed a great chance for a second, which would have put them through on away goals, Raul Meireles scored the winner to set up a rematch of their controversial 2009 semi when an outplayed Barcelona went through at the death.

At stake for Chelsea is a place in the final against either Real or Bayern with the spectre of a probable taste of the Europa League next season if they fail to win the competition for the first time.

Results

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (Chelsea beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate); Real Madrid 5 Apoel Nicosia 2 (Real Madrid beat APOEL Nicosia 8-2 on aggregate)

(Reuters)