Asensio, Isco on the mark as Real enter cup last 16

MADRID:Marco I’m very happy for Isco and I’m also very happy for Asensio and Vinicius. They could all be starters for us, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. SANTIAGO SOLARI, Real Madrid coach

Asensio and Francisco “Isco” Alarcon were the big winners in a match that had little at stake for Real Madrid. The pair made the most of their chances in a second-string Madrid team on Thursday, scoring two goals each in a 6-1 rout of third division Melilla in the Copa del Rey.

Javi Sanchez and Vinicius Junior also netted as the European champion advanced to the last-16 stage 10-1 on aggregate after having won the first leg 4-0 in the small Spanish enclave in Africa. Asensio and Isco used to have bigger roles for Madrid but haven’t been getting many firstteam opportunities under new coach Santiago Solari.

“I’m very happy for Isco and I’m also very happy for Asensio and Vinicius,” Solari said.

“They could all be starters for us, otherwise they wouldn’t be here.” Vinicius played well throughout and claimed his second goal for Madrid with a shot from inside the area in the 75th minute at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Isco was a starter for the first time under Solari and was named captain. He hadn’t scored a goal since September but one of his strikes against Melilla came from a superb long-range shot into the top corner.

Asensio, a second-half substitute in the league last weekend, hadn’t scored since the first leg against Melilla in October.

Mariano Diaz went off near the end because of an apparent muscle injury, while Madrid youth players Fran Garcia and Alvaro Fidalgo came on for their debuts as second-half substitutes.

EIBAR FALL

In other games, Eibar were the first top-tier club to go out after drawing 2-2 at home to second division Sporting Gijon. Eibar rallied from 2-0 down on Thursday but were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate.

Levante defeated second division Lugo 2-0 to advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Athletic Bilbao repeated the 4-0 result from the first leg against Huesca to advance 8-0 overall. Real Betis defeated third division Racing Santander 4-0 to go through 5-0 on aggregate.