Real Madrid vs. Cornella: Winners and Losers from Copa Del Rey Game

Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory over UE Cornella at the Santiago Bernabeu, ensuring their passage into the next round of the Copa del Rey by a comfortable margin.

Already 4-1 up on aggregate after the first leg, Carlo Ancelotti rested his big names and still saw his side romp to an easy win, with James Rodriguez (2), Isco, Jese Rodriguez and a Cornella own goal keeping a reduced crowd at the Bernabeu entertained.

Here are some winners and losers from Tuesday's game.

Winner: Jese Rodriguez

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Sidelined for eight months with a cruciate ligament injury—every athlete's worst nightmare—Jese Rodriguez needed just 21 minutes to mark his return to competitive action with a goal, on a night he could be forgiven for remembering for quite a while.

Having persevered with the gruelling, painful rehabilitation that comes with such an injury, the winger was introduced by coach Carlo Ancelotti midway through the second half to a rapturous reception from those who had decided to attend the game.

There was then an even bigger roar not long after, when Rodriguez accepted a pass from the effervescent Isco before lashing a low shot inside the far post for his first goal of the season.

The goal rounded off the scoring on the night and seemed to provoke the biggest reaction of all of them.

The 21-year-old still has a long way to go to establish himself as a first-team regular for Real, but this was an important milestone on that path—after seeing his early progress last season disrupted in the cruellest way possible.

Afterwards, Jese told Spanish television (via Reuters): "It has been many months of suffering. I am very pleased to be back and for my goal."

Loser: Javier Hernandez

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As the goals started flying in during the first half, it was clear that Javier Hernandez was desperate to get in on the action.

Midway through the second half, everyone thought the Mexican had achieved that aim; it was ironic that initially he was the only one who knew he had not scored.

Hernandez's shot had beaten the goalkeeper and bounced down off the underside of the crossbar, but it clearly took a touch off the recovering defender before finally finding the net.

The on-loan Manchester United forward had to settle for another night without a goal then, as his temporary spell in Spain continues to create more questions than answers.

Hernandez may have hoped a few goals in this game would have improved his chances of more regular action in more important games, although perhaps that was always going to be unlikely.

Nevertheless, going without a goal in a game of this stature gives Ancelotti absolutely no incentive to amend his pecking order.

Winner: Isco

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Not given the same star treatment of some of Real's main figures—Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos among those all rested—Isco may have been forgiven for being disgruntled at having to play in a virtual dead rubber of a match.

Instead he rolled up his sleeves, demanded the ball from his team-mates and delivered a brilliant individual display; scoring once, creating a couple more and generally dazzling with his every touch of the ball.

So too did James Rodriguez, who scored twice to Isco's solitary strike, as he combined brilliantly with Isco before the Colombian was withdrawn with plenty of the second half remaining.

The ex-Malaga man seems to have come on considerably in recent weeks and months, forcing his way into Carlo Ancelotti's plans with greater frequency and also becoming a presence to be reckoned with at national team level.

While the quality of the opposition was unsurprisingly low, this display underlined exactly why that has been the case.

Loser: Xavi Boniquet

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Every player, particularly in the lower leagues, surely fantasises about scoring a goal at the Santiago Bernabeu or the Nou Camp one day.

The Copa del Rey gives a handful of players exactly that chance every year, and on Tuesday it was Xavi Boniquet's chance to (nearly) get to realise his dream.

The chance was entirely of the tricky forward's own making, as he fooled Alvaro Arbeloa (captain for the night) into a rash challenge inside the box early in the first half.

Boniquet himself stepped up to take the penalty, but nerves got the better of him and he spooned his attempt horribly over the crossbar.

Moments later Real Madrid broke the deadlock, as the tie was put out of reach once and for all. Cornella barely had another chance of note, and Boniquet will surely now dream often about the glorious chance to score at the Bernabeu that he squandered so horribly.

Winner: Real Madrid's Victory Streak

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Victory on Tuesday night was Real Madrid's 17th straight in all competitions, extending the new club record they set after the weekend's league victory over Malaga.

The record by a Spanish club is 18, set by (who else?) Barcelona. Real will have the chance to equal that this weekend against Celta Vigo. If they successfully come away with the three points there, then the final Champions League group game against Ludogorets could see them set a new mark (as well as complete the phase with a 100 percent record).

Everything is going perfectly according to plan for Ancelotti's men at the moment.

On Tuesday, just about the only negative was the head injury Sami Khedira sustained—the midfielder was forced off but will surely be hopeful he will not be required to miss any further games.