Real started well with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the post early on, but they were unable to maintain the impetus and Valencia also hit the woodwork in both halves through Ricardo Costa and Tino Costa.

Karim Benzema was denied by a double save from keeper Vicente Guaita as Real pressed late on but Valencia also had their chances with Jordi Alba denied in a one-on-one with keeper Iker Casillas.

Real have now drawn three of their last five games in the league and face a crunch few weeks where they play derby rivals Atletico Madrid and tackle Barcelona in El Clasico.

The champions, meanwhile, have hit form at the right time with their 4-1 victory over 10-man Zaragoza on Saturday, their ninth in succession.

That game also saw Lionel Messi become the first player in almost 40 years to score 60 goals in a single European top-flight season after he bagged a double.

Messi’s 23 goals from the last 12 games helped him arrive at the landmark figure, the first time since Gerd Muller scored 67 goals in the 1972-73 season for Bayern Munich.

With a minimum of nine games still to play in the league and cup, 24-year-old Messi has the German’s record well within his sights.

On Sunday, with Sergio Ramos suspended for Real Madrid, Raul Albiol was preferred to partner Pepe at centre half after a solid performance last weekend in the 5-1 victory over Osasuna.

Coach Jose Mourinho also once again chose all-out attack with Gonzalo Higuain and Benzema starting along with Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo.

Valencia coach Unai Emery picked a surprising lineup with several changes from the Europa League victory in mid-week over AZ Alkmaar including Roberto Soldado, who has been carrying a knock, on the bench.

The visitors were pressed back after a lively start from Real and Ronaldo had several shots from the edge of the area including a drive after seven minutes which came back off the post.

In response, Sofiane Feghouli offered a warning at the other end with a strike which went narrowly wide but with Ozil also teasing the defence, and Higuain making threatening runs, a Real goal appeared on the cards.

Guaita pushed away another Ronaldo strike from 18 yards and then a Higuain cross was just too high for the Portuguese to steer goalwards.

Gradually Valencia were coming more into the game though and the Real defence was looking hesitant, notably when Tino Costa was given time to shoot inside the area after 25 minutes and Casillas could only parry the ball to Ricardo Costa who headed against the post.

A well-organised Valencia were taking advantage of the gaps left in midfield and Casillas was called on again to make an important save from Feghouli.

Mourinho brought on Angel Di Maria for Higuain after the break to give Real better balance but they were lucky not go behind after 55 minutes when Valencia were again denied by the post, this time a powerful shot from distance by Tino Costa.

Di Maria had an effort stopped by Guaita before the shot-stopper did extremely well to deny Benzema twice from close range with ten minutes to go.

Casillas was kept busy making a good block from substitute Jeremy Mathieu and he also stopped Alba in his tracks inside the penalty area in a frantic finale.

Levante moved up to fourth after two goals from Valdo Lopes and Arouna Kone inside the first ten minutes gave them a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid who saw Joao Miranda sent off late on.

Fernando Llorente scored the only goal as Athletic Bilbao beat Sevilla 1-0 while Mallorca and Granada ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Messi’s brace of first-half penalties took him to 51 Champions League goals – at 24 the youngest to achieve this landmark – and a total this season of 14 breaking the previous record held by himself and Ruud van Nistelrooy of 12.

Andres Iniesta’s well-taken goal early in the second-half wrapped up the match and they will face wither Chelsea or Benfica in the semi-finals as they bid to become the first team to retain the trophy since it became the Champions League in the 1992/93 season.

Antonio Nocerino had pulled a goal back for Milan to level briefly in the first-half but in the end there was no stopping Barcelona emulating the great Real Madrid side of the 1950′s in reaching five successive semi-finals.

The Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and players hit out at the referee over the penalty decisions but Barca coach Pep Guardiola claimed that they were clear cut.

“They were two penalties, if you pull someone in the area then that is what happens,” said Guardiola.

“We deserved to go through and I was very happy with the performance for the way that we were able to control the game especially after the third goal.

“To have reached the semi-final for the fifth time is something special and shows the strength of the club. To achieve it for one or two years is excellent but to do it for five is really amazing.

“I feel the same about my players whether they had qualified for the next round or not because they have already achieved so much they do not need to do more to prove themselves to me.

“We were against a team with a lot of experience and prestige so it was never going to be easy and there were always going to be talking points but they were two penalties and we did not complain about the ones that weren’t given in the first leg.”

However Allegri felt that his side were unlucky.

“The penalties were decisive and the second which was very debateable. It is never easy to play against Barca but overall they deserved to win,” he said.

A fired up Messi, who has been the top scorer in the Champions League for the past three seasons but had only scored once before against Italian opposition, had three chances inside the first ten minutes.

He shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the area and then side footed wide after a delightful link up with Cesc Fabregas.

At the San Siro, Milan had looked composed and managed to disrupt Barca’s usual passing game but now they were looking edgy especially at the back.

One error after another led to Barca’s opening goal.

Massimo Ambrosini was dispossessed in midfield by Messi who tore into the area and then appeared to make the wrong decision in playing the ball back to Xavi.

Full-back Luca Antonini dispossessed the Spain international but then went through the back of Messi and the referee awarded the penalty which the Argentine despatched into the corner.

Milan eventually began to settle and scored with their first real chance.

Robinho went on a jinking run and found Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the edge of the area, who picked out Nocerino and he calmly slid the ball past keeper Victor Valdes.

Milan had got themselves back into the game but then found themselves chasing the game again before the break, after another penalty was signalled for a shirt tug by Alessandro Nesta on Sergio Busquets as a corner was being delivered.

Messi stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

Still Milan knew that a goal would put them through to the next round but their task was made a lot tougher after 53 minutes when Iniesta put Barca further ahead.

Messi was again involved with his shot blocked by Philippe Mexes and the rebound unluckily for the defender ran to Iniesta who slotted home clinically from close range.

“I’m pretty sure that they are going to get a goal and so it is down to us to try and find the way to create chances because if they have to defend with eight players in the penalty then they will do,” said Guardiola.
The defending champions cruised through the last round with a 7-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg at the Nou Camp with Lionel Messi scoring a record five goals in the process, but this tie is now evenly balanced after a 0-0 draw at the San Siro last week.
Milan defended solidly and were able to break up Barcelona’s quick passing through the midfield. They now know that a score draw will see them through to the semi-finals.
“We are now in the latter stages of the competition and this is a key match which we have to win. We need to find a way to score goals and so we will have to high with high rhythm, press forward and move the ball quickly,” said Guardiola.
“There is no question of underestimating Milan. We know that they are a team that can knock us out as they creates chances, defends well and are strong on the counter-attack. We are not a side which can hold out for very long defensively and so if Milan dominate the possession then there is something that we are doing wrong.”
At the weekend Carles Puyol was rested in the 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao but is expected to return to the starting lineup against Milan and it could again be at left-back like in the first leg with with first choice Eric Abidal waiting for a liver transplant.
He said Barcelona will have their typical attacking approach.
“Our plan is the same as normal, to go out to try and win and play our football while at the same time aware that we are up against an excellent side. I’m sure that they are going to be tight at the back and wait to counter-attack us,” he said.
“This is the most important match so far this season for us and while it is always important not to concede, this time it is more so than ever.
“I am ready to play wherever the coach decides and I’m just happy to help the team. Playing on the left is not my ideal position but that is the way it is and we are playing one of the top sides in Europe so you have to go out and enjoy it.”
It will also be a big night for former Barca player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returns after a disappointing spell in Spain.
“He is one of the best strikers in the world, difficult to defend one-on-one  and he can shoot from distance and so we will try and make sure he gets the ball as little as possible,” said Puyol.

Afterwards coach Pep Guardiola singled out his defence for praise.

Karim Benzema sent Real on their way with a delightful volley in the opening minutes and further goals followed from Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.

While Osasuna threatened a brief comeback after the break through a Juan Francisco ?Nino’ header, Ronaldo struck again after 69 minutes and Higuain, with his second, wrapped up the scoring.

A minute from the end, Osasuna substitute Roland Lamah was dismissed for a second yellow card as his team’s six-match unbeaten run came to an end on the day that coach Jose Luis Mendilibar had extended his contract for another year.

“We scored from the first chance that we had with a goal which was out of this world and the second was also fantastic,” said Real coach Jose Mourinho.

“We adapted well against a tough side like Osasuna and we continued to play our attacking play which involved looking for our strikers. Even when we conceded the goal we knew how to respond and did not panic at 3-1. It was a good performance by us.”

At Camp Nou, Barca went ahead five minutes before the break through Andres Iniesta and then, following the restart, Messi scored after Cristian Tello was felled in the box.

Athletic had less than 48 hours to prepare for the match following their 4-2 victory over Schalke in the Europa League and they made several changes to the side leaving out valuable players like Fernando Llorente and Iker Muniain. Guardiola admitted this made a difference.

Guardiola claimed he would not keep players in reserve with the second leg of their Champions League tie coming up against AC Milan following the 0-0 at the San Siro last Wednesday.

Even so Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol found themselves on the bench.

Defender Jon Aurtenetxe headed a Gerard Pique effort off the line but a goal for Barcelona was on the cards and it arrived through Iniesta after 40 minutes.

Known for crucial goals rather than a regular scorer he smashed the ball into the roof of the net after being supplied by Messi.

Tello was causing problems for the Athletic defence and he was felled by Javi Martinez in the penalty area after 57 minutes with Messi firing in Barcelona’s second from the spot.

Muniain, who came on at half time, went closest to pulling a goal back, when he rounded keeper Victor Valdes but Pique cleared on the line.

Malaga’s Champions League hopes suffered a blow as they lost 2-0 at home to Real Betis.

Zaragoza moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Gijon who are now in last place on goal difference with Racing Santander who were beaten 1-0 by Granada.