Easy King's Cup win for Real Madrid

Reigning champions Real Madrid moved a step closer to the last 16 of the King's Cup, thanks to a comfortable 4-1 first leg away win against Barcelona-based club, Cornella.

With the return leg still to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the result meant coach Carlo Ancelotti's side should have no problems in qualifying, reported Xinhua.

Ancelotti made wholesale changes to his side Wednesday with playing time given to defenders Rafael Varene and Alvaro Arbeloa. Keylor Navas also replaced goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Varene justified his inclusion with his side's first two goals of the match, the first coming from a corner taken by James Rodriguez and the second from a corner taken by Isco.

Between his two goals, Cornella's Oscar Munoz reduced the margin, with a goal he will remember for a long time, smashing the ball past Navas after a series of defensive errors.

Eight minutes after the break, Javier Hernandez scored Real Madrid's third with a cross-shot, which the Cornella keeper, Jose Manuel, should have stopped.

Marcelo rounded off the scoring with just over 15 minutes left on the clock to ensure that the return leg should be little more than a formality for Real Madrid.

--Indo-Asian News Service

sam/ml/rd