BARCELONA: Raphael Varane converted two corners as a second-string Real Madrid began the defence of their King’s Cup crown with a 4-1 victory against third-tier part-timers Cornella on Wednesday.
The last-32, first leg pitted the world’s richest club by income, with annual revenues of more than 600 million euros ($758 million), against a club with a budget of around 1 million euros a season, who were promoted to Spain’s regional Segunda B for the first time at the end of last term.
Despite the glaring mismatch, Barcelona-based Cornella, whose players include a dentist and a school teacher, were not overawed by the occasion and after Varane nodded Real in front from a James Rodriguez corner in the 10th minute, burly striker Oscar Munoz levelled in the 20th with a fierce strike.
France centre back Varane made it 2-1 from Isco’s corner in the 36th minute and Javier Hernandez struck eight minutes into the second half before substitute Marcelo rifled home the rebound from an Isco effort 15 minutes from time.
“It was important to get a good win in this first leg,” Hernandez said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.
“With all our opponents the coach asks us to be professional and we treated this game in exactly the same way as we would a ‘Clasico’ (against Barcelona),” added the Mexican, who is on loan at Real from Manchester United.
Cornella play their home games at the club’s modest 1,500-capacity stadium but Wednesday’s match was played at Espanyol’s 41,000-seater arena next door.
The stadium was at least half full, with plenty of Barcelona-based Real fans turning out to see their team despite the absence of regulars like Cristiano Ronaldo, the injured Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas.
Spanish media reported the Cornella players have been promised a bonus of around 1,400 euros if they achieve the feat of eliminating Real, less than Ronaldo earns in a single hour.
“We had to make the most of the fact that we were playing in front of so many people for the first time,” Munoz told Canal Plus.
REUTERS
