Marco Asensio leads Real to battling win over Fuenlabrada

Real Madrid claimed a comfortable, yet uninspiring, 2-0 win over lower league side Fuenlabrada at a stadium named after Fernando Torres in the Copa del Rey round of 32.

Zinedine Zidane made wholesale changes to his side for the match, with starting spots handed to Borja Mayoral, Achraf Hakimi, Dani Ceballos and Jesus Vellejo among others. It wasn’t until the second half that the Spanish and European champions made the breakthrough, though, winning a controversial penalty following a foul on Achraf.

Marco Asensio stepped up to the 12-yard mark and finished the spot kick to give Real Madrid the lead, which they doubled not long after with a second penalty. This time it was Lucas Vazquez who converted to give the capital club a 2-0 advantage.

There was till time for Vallejo to be shown a red card, with the home side also reduced to 10 men. The second leg will be played at the end of November, with Real Madrid all but certain of their place in the next round of the competition.

Can you imagine the tension if, after 60 minutes, Real Madrid had been level with lower league opposition in a one-legged cup format? It would have made a real spectacle to this game. Instead, this was a dreary encounter. Teams like Fuenlabrada, who play in the Segunda Division B - Group 1, know that they stand no chance of making the next round due to the two-legged system at this stage of the competition. It’s designed to favour the big teams and it’s time to scrap it in the name of entertainment.

The Spanish-born Moroccan has broken his way into the senior squad at Real Madrid this season, and it was he who forced the opener for the Spanish champions in the second half of this game, winning a penalty kick after a surge into the penalty box. Achraf was a threat throughout and only further underlined his potential as a back up to Dani Carvajal in the right back position. A strong performance.

Fuenlabrada - Codina 6, Iribas 5, Diaz 6, Armando 5, Garcia 4, Atienza 5, Milla 5, Fraile 5, Quero 5, Fernandez 5, Dioni 5.

Real Madrid - Casilla 5, Achraf 6, Nacho 5, Vallejo 5, Tejero 6, Llorente 6, Ceballos 5, Vazquez 6, Asensio 6, Theo 6, Mayoral 5.

45’ OFF THE CROSSBAR! That's the closest we have come to an opener in the first half. Llorente strikes an effort towards goal from the edge of the box, but it's tipped on to the bar.

62’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Achraf is brought down by Garcia and the Fuenlabrada defender is shown a yellow card.

63’ GOAL! Fuenlabrada 0-1 Real Madrid: There's the breakthrough, finally. Asensio steps up to the penalty spot and sends the goalkeeper the wrong way with an assured finish into the opposite corner of the net.

81’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Candela has been shown a second yellow card for bringing down Theo.

80’ GOAL! Fuenlabrada 0-2 Real Madrid: Vazquez is given the chance to take this spot kick and squeezes his shot underneath the goalkeeper, who guessed the right way. It was too far into the corner of the net, though.

89’ SENT OFF! Vallejo has been shown a straight red card for a high challenge. That seemed to be a little harsh on the Real Madrid youngster, but he has been sent for a slightly early bath.

No player had a hand in more goals for Real Madrid this season than Marco Asensio (six goals, two assists level with Cristiano Ronaldo).