Inter and Valencia enjoy cup wins

FC Internazionale Milano will meet UC Sampdoria in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia after defeating AS Roma 2-1 in their quarter-final at San Siro on Wednesday, while in Spain's Copa del Rey Valencia CF beat Sevilla FC 3-2 and RCD Espanyol held FC Barcelona to a goalless draw.

Ibrahimović winner
Adriano opened the scoring for Inter on ten minutes as the Serie A leaders looked to bounce back from their defeat at Atalanta BC on Sunday. These two sides had met in each of the past four Coppa Italia finals with Roma winning the previous two, and the holders fought their way back, Rodrigo Taddei drawing them level on 61 minutes with a powerful drive. Parity, however, was shortlived as Zlatan Ibrahimović struck the winner just a minute later.

Sampdoria through
Inter will meet Sampdoria in a two-legged semi-final after the Genoese side defeated Udinese Calcio 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Giampaolo Pazzini, freshly arrived from ACF Fiorentina, opened the scoring for Sampdoria on 55 minutes and though Antonio Di Natale drew Udinese level from the spot eight minutes after that, he missed another spot kick in the final minute, to allow the visiting side to have the last laugh. S.S. Lazio host Torino FC on Thursday with the winners meeting either SSC Napoli or Juventus, who play their quarter-final on 4 February.

Valencia win
In Spain, meanwhile, in an entertaining match at the Mestalla, Valencia came from 2-1 down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final. David Villa opened the scoring for the hosts on five minutes after pouncing on Adriano Correira's mis-placed back-pass but Sevilla hit back after the break with goals from Luis Fabiano (52) and Correira (67) putting the visiting side in command.

Barcelona held
Valencia, though, struck twice in the final six minutes to earn victory, Rubén Baraja drawing them level before Juan Mata struck the winner off a deflection with four minutes to play. FC Barcelona were held to a goalless draw against RCD Espanyol in the night's other match in new Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino's first game in charge. The two other quarter-final first legs will be played on Thursday, when RCD Mallorca host Real Betis Balompié and Athletic Bilbao are at home to Real Sporting de Gijón.

AZ advance
In the Netherlands Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar remain in the hunt for the Dutch double after defeating amateur side Achilles ’29 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Dutch Cup thanks to goals from Sebastien Pocognoli, Moussa Dembélé and Gill Swerts. UEFA Cup participants NEC Nijmegen came from behind to defeat Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 and also through are FC Volendam, who beat SBV Excelsior 3-0, Roda JC, who beat amateur side FC Lienden 2-0 after extra-time, and NAC Breda who defeated FC Groningen on penalties after a 2-2 draw. De Graafschap and SC Heerenveen advanced on Tuesday while UEFA Cup participants FC Twente visit ADO Den Haag on Thursday.