Copa del Rey wrap: Real Madrid, Espanyol cruise through

Real Madrid brushed aside third-tier side Ponferradina 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, joining Espanyol in the Copa del Rey’s Round of 16.

La Liga leaders Real went through 6-1 on aggregate after Jose Maria Callejon, Nuri Sahin, Rafael Varane and substitute Joselu netted for what was essentially a second-string side.

Jose Mourinho’s men broke the deadlock through a nicely worked goal in the 24th minute. Mesut Oezil broke into space on the right wing and slid a pass through the channel to Callejon, who drove towards goal before smashing the ball into the bottom left corner.

The tie was put all but beyond Ponferradina a minute before the break when a set-piece allowed Real Madrid to extend their lead. Oezil whipped a deep corner kick into the box and Sahin ghosted in at the back post to head in to the bottom left corner for his first goal for Real.

It took the hosts just five minutes after half-time to grab their third goal of the match. Esteban Granero saw his dipping free kick saved by Quintana, only for defender Varane to arrive to power in the rebound.

But the Ponferradina fans were given a moment to remember when striker Acoran drifted in from the right wing and curled a lovely left-footed strike past Iker Casillas into the bottom corner.

The home side continued to dominate, however, and a quick free-kick allowed Oezil to break forward through the centre and slip a pass down the left to Callejon.

He squared a pass to the back post for Spain under-21 international Joselu, who cushioned the ball home to complete the scoring.

Espanyol won by the same score line to go through 4-1 on aggregate, at the expense of Segunda Division promotion candidates Celta Vigo.

Manchester City loanee Vladimir Weiss opened the scoring for the Barcelona-based club on 31 minutes before Alvaro Vazquez added a second.

Hugo put one into his own net to make it 3-0, while David Rodriguez pulled one back for Celta Vigo before Sergio Garcia made it 4-1.

Mallorca went through against Sporting Gijon thanks to 2-0 away win at El Molinon.

Alejandro Menedez Diez’s own goal levelled the tie before Emilio Nsue’s 70th-minute goal sent Mallorca through to the next round.