Copa del Rey, Santiago Bernabeu - Real Madrid 3 (Rodriguez 11', 44' Varane 29') Sevilla 0
Real Madrid got 2017 off to a blistering start, blowing away Sevilla with a commanding 3-0 win to put one foot in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
James Rodriguez bagged a brace, with Raphael Varane also finding the net, as Zinedine Zidane’s side laid down a marker for the year ahead and extended their unbeaten run to an astonishing 38 games, all without any of their famed front three.
Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo all missed out, with Luka Modric, Alvaro Morata, Marcelo and James stepping up as Real’s standout performers at the Santiago Bernabeu. This was one of their best displays of the season so far, with Jorge Sampaoli’s side comprehensively beaten.
Real Madrid will take a commanding advantage into next week’s second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, when Benzema and Ronaldo may return to the first team fold. The tie might already be dead in the water, especially with the capital club in this form.
http://www.eurosport.com/football/copa-del-rey/2016-2017/