TEMPO.CO, Madrid — Real Madrid begin their mission to defend the Copa del Rey with a comfortable 4-1 win over third-tier UD Cornella in the first leg of their fourth-round tie on Wednesday.
With World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo, among other stars who crushed the home side, it was center-back Raphael Varane who produced the finishing touch in the first half as his hard header put the visitors in lead after just 10 minutes.
Cornella, from the outskirts of Barcelona, had his magic moment 10 minutes later, when Oscar Munoz managed to avoid Varane and Alvaro Arbeloa before firing high past Keylor Navas to equalize a 1-1 score.
However, in a game played at the home of Espanyol, Varane restored Real's lead from another corner nine minutes before half-time and Javier Hernandez put the tie beyond the Catalans eight minutes during the second period.
The Brazilian donated a score when he put a net from a narrow angle after Jose Manuel Segovia had parried Isco's effort.
With the second match still to come at the Santiago Bernabeu in early December, Real remain on course for a last 16 meeting with La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.
ANTARA
