2nd December, 2014
Colombian star playmaker James Rodriquez helped holders Real Madrid into the Copa del Rey Last 16 on Tuesday, the Spanish giants crushing third division Cornella 5-0 for a 9-1 aggregate win.
Real may have been without Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale but Carlo Ancelotti’s youthful side barely made a false move to notch up their 17th consecutive win in all competitions.
Real almost got off to a rocky start when in the 14th minute Alvaro Arbeloa, captain for the night, gave away a penalty.
But the Catalan club’s striker Xavi Boniquet fired over the crossbar of Real’s third choice goalkeeper, Fernando Pacheco
One of Real’s ‘galacticos’ on duty, Rodriguez, opened the scoring two minutes later with a deft lob, Isco adding the second and Rodriguez adding a third before the break.
An own goal from Borja Lopez increased Cornella’s deficit with Real substitute Jese Rodriquez adding Real’s 88th minute fifth goal.
This was the 21-year-old Spaniard’s first competitive match after eight months out with an injured knee.
Real’s perfect night at the Bernabeu earned them the first ticket to the Last 16 of a competition they are seeking to win for the 20th time.