ultimately comfortable 4-1 win over third-tier side Cornella on
Wednesday.
In the first leg of the sides' fourth-round clash, a much-changed
Real side were somewhat laboured in securing victory
at Espanyol's Estadi Cornella-El Prat home, but did enough to
secure a 10th consecutive triumph in all competitions.
Real made hard work of the first half, but were ahead at the
break thanks to two Raphael Varane headers, which sandwiched
a stunning equaliser from Cornella's lone striker Oscar Munoz.
The Liga giants' greater quality shone through after the interval
as Javier Hernandez quickly established a two-goal cushion.
Real's fourth of the game, and 50th of the season, was scored b
Marcelo and ensured a routine win for coach Carlo Ancelotti,
who rested a host of key players including Cristiano Ronaldo,
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Cornella's part-timers will have a chance to impress at the
Santiago Bernabeu in the tie's second leg.
The Liga side quickly hit the front as Varane rose unchallenged
to firmly nod home James Rodriguez's inswinging corner.
Though camped firmly in their own half, Cornella found a
response as a long heave out of defence was flicked infield and
Alex Gallar prodded into the path of Munoz, who held off Alvar
Arbeloa's challenge and lashed past Keylor Navas.
Real were struggling to create opportunities as Cornella captain
David Garcia - a dentist by trade - kept his midfield colleagues
well drilled, Isco and Rodriguez routinely drifting in from the
flanks only to find their path blocked.
Yet the visitors retook the lead with 10 minutes to go in the
opening half, Varane again scoring from a corner - this time
delivered by Isco - as Cornella goalkeeper Jose Segovia failed to
get a fist on the ball.
Hernandez settled any remaining nerves five minutes into the
second half, drifting across the 18-yard line before clipping a
low angled shot beyond Segovia's reach and into the corner.
Second-half substitute Marcelo saw a cheeky backheeled effort
saved, but the Brazilian claimed a goal with 20 minutes to go
after following in Isco's parried shot to score from a narrow
angle.
Ancelotti responded by withdrawing stand-in captain Karim
Benzema and Isco. Raul de Tomas was handed a debut in place
of the former, while midfielder Alvaro Medran came on for his
second outing at first-team level.
The youngsters appeared eager to impress, though they could
not force Segovia into action, and the more senior members of
the squad will return looking to keep Real's form up when they
head to Granada in La Liga on Saturday.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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