James Rodriguez double completes Real Madrid’s 9-1 Copa del Rey thrashing

Real Madrid earned the first place in the Copa del Rey's last 16 on Tuesday night, finishing off a mauling of overwhelmed Cornella as James Rodriguez took a star turn.

Real Madrid's James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring in Madrid's 5-0 Copa del Rey second leg victory on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP / December 2, 2014
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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.

Madrid 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, scored twice in the first half, lashing in Isco’s through-ball and firing home from outside the box having been teed up by Javier Hernandez, and in between times set up Isco for the second.

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 Santiago Bernabeu earned them the first ticket to the Last 16 of a competition they are seeking to win for the 20th time.

In first-leg action, Athletic Bilbao needed a stoppage-time goal from Borja Viguera to give them a 1-1 draw with Alcoyano after the third-tier side led through Francis Ferron.

The remaining three fixtures pitted La Liga teams against those from the Segunda Division, with Las Palmas producing a surprise result by beating Celta Vigo 2-1.

Hernan Trujillo gave the second-tier side a first-half lead and Marcelo Silva made it 2-0, though Santi Mina quickly pulled a goal back to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg in a fortnight.

Elche were held 0-0 by Real Valladolid but Espanyol had no such trouble against Deportivo Alaves, winning 2-0 with a goal in each half from Christian Stuani, the second arriving in injury time.

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