Cadiz vs. Real Madrid: Winners and Losers from Copa Del Rey
Real Madrid provisionally advanced into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-1 win at third-tier Cadiz on Wednesday. But the story did not end there.
Isco scored twice and Denis Cheryshev netted the other for Real, but the capital club could be set for expulsion from the competition after fielding an ineligible player in Cheryshev.
Kike scored a late consolation for Cadiz, who will consider an appeal of the result, according to Diario Sport.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Loser: Real Madrid
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Denis Cheryshev started on the left for Real Madrid and scored a good goal in the third minute. Unfortunately for the Blancos, Cheryshev was supposed to be suspended for the match.
During the match, Diario AS tweeted confirmation that Cheryshev had drawn a one-match Copa del Rey suspension last March after Villarreal were eliminated from the competition. In a later tweet, the newspaper noted that the suspension stays with the player, no matter which club he currently plays for.
And so, by playing Cheryshev, Real Madrid risked expulsion from the Cup. Because of the blunder, Wednesday's win might mean nothing.
At the Daily Mirror, Ed Malyon noted that there is precedent for just this type of situation. According to Malyon, Osasuna were disqualified from the competition this season because of an ineligible player.
What should have been an easy win has turned into a potential nightmare for Real Madrid.
Loser: Rafa Benitez
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The truth is that plenty of people probably messed up. Any number of Real Madrid officials could and should have remembered that Cheryshev was ineligible to play Wednesday night.
But Rafa Benitez is the figurehead of Real Madrid's on-field product. Thus, he deservedly takes some blame here.
Benitez is ultimately responsible for the team he puts on the pitch for each game. He should have known better, and now Real might be out of the competition.
This was already a trying time for the Spanish manager following Madrid's embarrassing loss to Barcelona in last month's Clasico. But if Real are thrown out of the Cup and miss out on a chance for silverware, this would be worse.
Winner: Denis Cheryshev's Finish
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Lost amid the news about Cheryshev's ineligibility was the fact that the Russian scored a good goal in the third minute.
James Rodriguez was the architect, opening up the home defense with a glorious pass lofted over the width of the pitch. Cheryshev controlled deftly with his first touch and slotted an accurate shot into the bottom corner.
It was an excellent strike. Too bad nobody will remember that part.
Winner: Isco
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Isco scored twice, providing the game with two rare bits of attacking quality in the second half.
His first strike was particularly impressive. In the 65th minute, the midfielder chased down a high ball played into the box, controlled with his chest and—without breaking stride during the entire move—finished past the onrushing goalkeeper.
He bagged his second eight minutes later, latching onto a James Rodriguez through ball before cutting inside and sending a deflected shot past the goalkeeper.
Isco didn't have many opportunities, but he took those two very well.
Winner: James Rodriguez
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Rodriguez created two goals for Real Madrid with typically brilliant passing.
The first came early in the match, in just the third minute, when James opened up the Cadiz defense with a beautiful, cross-pitch pass to Cheryshev. The Russian controlled the ball with a touch before firing into the net.
James was at it again in the 73rd minute, picking out Isco with a low, diagonal pass to the left. Isco cut inside and sent a deflected shot past the goalkeeper.
For anyone familiar with the Colombian's work, the two assists came as no surprise. At his best, James has the ability to influence any game.
