Madrid, Dec 3: Holders Real Madrid set up a probable King’s Cup last 16 clash against city rivals Atletico when a second-string side completed a crushing 5-0 win over third-tier minnows Cornella at the Bernabeu here Tuesday. Real had won the first leg 4-1.
A James Rodriguez double, strikes from Isco and Jese and an own goal from Cornella’s Borja Lopez secured the success for the Madrid club.
The victory, with top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo watching from the stands, extended Real’s club-record winning streak to 17 matches stretching back to a 1-2 La Liga reverse at home to Atletico in September.
Cornella, whose part-timers include a dentist and a school teacher, could have taken a surprise lead in the 14th minute when Alvaro Arbeloa, captaining Real for the first time, felled Xavi Boniquet in the area and conceded a penalty. Boniquet picked himself to take the spot-kick but fired wildly over the bar and Rodriguez made it 1-0 for the home side moments later.
Isco doubled Real’s lead in the 33rd minute and Rodriguez grabbed his second a minute later before Lopez put the ball into his own net in the 61st.
Substitute Jese, returning after knee surgery, completed the rout 13 minutes from time.
In other matches Tuesday, Athletic Bilbao needed a late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw at third-tier Alcoyano and Espanyol won 2-0 at second-division Alaves.
