Cornella vs. Real Madrid: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Raphael Varane's headed double twice gave Real Madrid the lead as they eventually overcame third-tier Cornella 4-1 in the Copa del Rey's fourth-round first leg at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat on Wednesday.

The Frenchman gave the defending champions an early lead only for Oscar Munoz to equalise for the home side before Varane re-established Madrid's advantage.     

Second-half goals from Javier Hernandez and Marcelo wrapped things up for the visitors in a highly entertaining match.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Real started the game as many would have expected, dominating possession as their inferior hosts struggled to find any rhythm.

Indeed, it was not long before Madrid broke the Cornella resistance, Varane rising to head a ninth-minute James Rodriguez corner home for the potential beginning of an expected rout.

However, the home side stunned their auspicious visitors in the 20th minute as a knock-down came to the feet of Munoz, who turned incredibly well and fired home past Keylor Navas, per beIN Sports Matteo Bonetti:

The scores were not level for long, however. Varane scored an improbable second 15 minutes later, this time from an Isco corner, a first for a La Liga defender this season per Opta:

Cornella went into half-time likely delighted to be only one goal back, having scored a fine goal and kept the European champions guessing for much of the opening period.

However, it always seemed as though Los Blancos would take the game away from the hosts at some point, and Hernandez put daylight between the two sides as he made it 3-1 in the 50th minute.

The Mexican summer-signing picked up the ball outside the opposition box and dribbled into space before firing low into the bottom corner, per 101 Great Goals:

Marcelo then made it 4-1 with 15 minutes remaining after getting onto the end of a parried shot from the terrific Isco to fire home from an acute angle on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was an easy win in the end for a relatively strong Real side put out by Carlo Ancelotti. Cornella showed terrific spirit and equalised through a great strike but could not handle Real's quality in the end.

But the hosts certainly avoided embarrassment and Real now march into December's home second leg with a massive advantage in their bid to retain the Copa del Rey, with local rivals Atletico Madrid the likely opponents in the next round.

Grades

Raphael Varane: B-

In an attacking sense, Varane was excellent as he took advantage of two set pieces to claim a rare brace and twice give Real the lead.

However, in his defensive capacity the Frenchman was often quite poor, and against a better side he could well have been culpable for some opposition goals.

For Cornella's strike, he was very indecisive in dealing with a ball that eventually went through to Munoz for the equaliser, as Spanish football writer Dermot Corrigan alludes to:

Isco: A

Isco was at the centre of much of the creative play for Real on Wednesday and continued his very good form since coming into the first team after Gareth Bale's injury.

The Spaniard whipped in the corner for Varane's second goal, and his stinging shot could only be parried to Marcelo for the fourth strike.

Those in the crowd were very much enjoying Isco's play as he put on a good show in the Copa del Rey:

Oscar Munoz: A+

He wasn't going to get many chances in front of the Real goal, but when he did, Oscar Munoz truly made it count.

Along with several nice touches during the match, Munoz provided the moment of the night with his equalising goal halfway through the first half.

Turning and shooting home in a fashion any striker would have been proud of, Cornella's striker, if only for a moment, presented the possibility of a huge upset with a wonderful goal.

Post-Match Reaction

Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with his side's first-leg win Wednesday night and praised those Madrid fans who had turned out to see a dominant win, via RMadridHome:

"

Carlo Ancelotti: "The atmosphere was very good. There was a lot for Madridistas. Those who have seen the match should be happy." #HalaMadrid

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) October 29, 2014"

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Carlo Ancelotti: "Isco is loved by the fans. He's in his best moment since arriving at Real Madrid." #HalaMadrid

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) October 29, 2014"