01 Nov 2018
Interim boss Solari begins Real spell with cup victory

Santiago Solari began his interim spell in charge of Real Madrid with a comfortable 4-0 Copa del Rey last-32, first-leg victory over UD Melilla.

Former winger Solari was appointed to replaced Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked on Monday after only 14 games.

Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Odriozola and Cristo Gonzalez were on the scoresheet for the La Liga side.

Melilla is a tiny Spanish enclave of about 4.7 square miles on the north coast of Morocco.

It has a population of 86,000, with the game taking place at a packed Alvarez Claro Stadium which has a capacity of 10,000.

The second leg will be 460 miles away at Real's Santiago Bernabeu on 5 December.

  • Solari the stopgap replaces Lopetegui - but who will be the long-term successor?

Former Argentina international Solari "provisionally" stepped up from Real's Castilla B team, although Spanish regulations state an interim coach can be at the helm for a fortnight - but must be appointed officially after 15 days, or not at all.

During that period, the 52-year-old has games against Valladolid - sixth in La Liga - on Saturday, Group G's bottom side Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on 7 November, and mid-table Celta Vigo the following Sunday.

Real have earned 14 out of a possible 30 league points this season and have taken only one from their past five matches - their worst run since they were pointless in the final five games of 2008-09 under Juande Ramos.

  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats

Line-ups

Melilla

  • 1Barrio
  • 2ChaklaBooked at 11mins
  • 5Mahanan
  • 4Segura Martínez
  • 3Carrion
  • 6Martín Castillo
  • 7MartínezSubstituted forAmar Romeroat 75'minutes
  • 10Otegui
  • 8Garrido FernándezSubstituted forBuenoat 84'minutes
  • 11Ruano
  • 9QasmiSubstituted forMartínat 70'minutes

Substitutes

  • 12Bueno
  • 13Moreno González
  • 14Ortega
  • 15Romero López
  • 16Martín
  • 17Amar Romero
  • 18García

Real Madrid

  • 1Navas
  • 19Odriozola
  • 31Sánchez de FelipeBooked at 10mins
  • 4RamosSubstituted forNachoat 45'minutes
  • 23Reguilón
  • 20AsensioSubstituted forGonzálezat 83'minutes
  • 18Llorente
  • 24Ceballos
  • 17VázquezBooked at 72mins
  • 9BenzemaSubstituted forValverdeat 45'minutes
  • 28Paixão de Oliveira Júnior

Substitutes

  • 6Nacho
  • 14Casemiro
  • 15Valverde
  • 25Courtois
  • 26De la Fuente
  • 27González
  • 34Feuillasier Abalo
Referee:
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
Attendance:
7,212

Match Stats

Home TeamMelillaAway TeamReal Madrid
Possession
Home40%
Away60%
Shots
Home7
Away21
Shots on Target
Home2
Away14
Corners
Home2
Away7
Fouls
Home8
Away12