Real Madrid 3-0 Sevilla: James Rodriguez scores twice to give Zinedine Zidane's side huge advantage going into second leg of Copa del Rey tie
- James Rodriguez gave Real Madrid the lead in the 11th minute of the first-leg Copa del Rey fixture
- Raphael Varane then doubled his side's lead in the 29th minute on Wednesday at Santiago Bernabeu
- Then a minute before half time, Rodriguez grabbed his second goal of the cup match from the penalty spot
James Rodriguez scored twice as Real Madrid made it an incredible 38 games unbeaten with a 3-0 win over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey.
Rodriguez was given his chance as Madrid played their first-leg last-16 Spanish Cup game with Gareth Bale still recovering from injury and Cristiano Ronaldo rested. And he grabbed it with both hands and two first half goals.
First he scored from distance after Casemiro had robbed Sevilla. Just before half-time he rolled in a penalty after Madrid were given an extremely fortunate penalty.
James Rodriguez celebrates with Croatian playmaker Luka Modric after scoring the club's third just before half time
Real take a 3-0 lead going into the Copa del Rey second leg which will be played at Sevilla on January 12
Zinedine Zidane's side dominated throughout the match and Raphael Varane put daylight in between the two sides
Between the two strikes from the Colombian, Raphael Varane climbed above Sevilla’s defence to head in the second as Madrid all-but assured their passage into the quarter-finals.
It’s now four goals and eight assists for James despite the fact that he has struggled for minutes so far this season.
Sevilla missed several chances to get back into the game before the break with Vitolo and Joaquín Correa guilty of misses and they were hard done by for the penalty that ended the game as a contest.
Modric seemed to have been pushed by Mariano but he in turn had been pushed by Rodriguez.
Attention seeking referee Mateu Lahoz pointed to the spot. The erratic whistler had also booked four players in the first period.
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro said after the win: ‘We know the job is not completely done because they will really push us at their home.’
Asked if the team were especially determined not to repeat their mid-season collapse of two years ago when they returned from having been crowned World Club Champions but lost their first game of the year to Valencia, he added: ‘We know every time we put the shirt on we have to win the game.’
The French defender doubled Real Madrid's lead in the 29th minute on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey first leg
Sevilla's Mariano Ferreira fights for the ball with Rodriguez, who has recently been linked with a move away from Spain
Zinedine Zidane's side face Granada in La Liga before playing their second leg against Sevilla
A despondent Vitolo said: ‘We made a mistake no sooner the game started and it was difficult from there. It will be difficult to turn it around now but we have to try because anything can happen in 90 minutes.’
It looks an impossible task and there looks no stopping Real Madrid. It was a fine way for Zinedine Zidane to celebrate one year exactly as Real Madrid coach.
In 365 days he has three trophies and only two defeats. The winning run goes on, Ronaldo is no longer missed when he doesn’t play and even James Rodriguez is happy.
Rodriguez pictured celebrating with his team-mates after giving the hosts the early advantage at the Santiago Bernabeu
The Colombian forward celebrates scoring Real Madrid's first goal during the opening period on Wednesday night
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170108201627im_/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/gif/2015/09/16/150909_964x110_realmadrid.png)
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High quality football tonight at Bernabeu
by Mourdiola 123