Real Madrid gain firm hand over Sevilla with Copa del Rey last-16 first-leg win

Real Madrid marked the one-year anniversary of Zinedine Zidane's management by stuffing Sevilla 3-0 in the Copa del Rey last-16 first leg.

James Rodriguez scored twice - one of them a penalty - and Rafael Varane headed home in a comprehensive victory at the Bernabeu,

It was the Spanish giants' first match since winning the Club World Cup in December and key players Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were rested.

Rodriguez, who had said in Japan that he could leave Real this month, opened the scoring with a strike from outside the area after 11 minutes as Real sought to extend a 37-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Defender Varane then towered above his opponent to double Real's advantage just before the half hour with a header from a Toni Kroos corner, before Rodriguez put them three goals to the good a minute before half-time.

Luka Modric was fouled in the area and the Colombian coolly converted the resulting spot-kick - and he pledged after the match to remain at Real for at least the rest of the season.

Elsewhere, goals from Willian Jose, Carlos Vela and Mikel Oyarzabal put Real Sociedad on their way to a comfortable victory over Villarreal.

However, Trigueros pulled one back to make it 3-1 on the night and give the Yellow Submarine a vital lifeline ahead of the second leg at El Madrigal in a week's time.

Second tier clubs Alcorcon and Cordoba also played out a goalless draw at Estadio Santo Domingo.