Real Madrid back on track vs. Ponferradina

Real Madrid back on track vs. Ponferradina

Published Dec. 13, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

Real Madrid shrugged off its weekend defeat by Barcelona to beat third-tier Ponferradina 2-0 away in the fourth round of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.

Jose Callejon put the cup holders ahead in the 29th minute of the first leg match.

Callejon steered Sami Khedira's bouncing cross into the top right corner as the former Espanyol forward continues to make the most of his limited opportunities.

Madrid played with 10 men from the 69th after defender Raul Albiol collected a second booking, but Cristiano Ronaldo made the game safe five minutes later.

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The Portugal forward- heavily criticized for his performance in Saturday's 3-1 league defeat by Barcelona - ran onto Gonzalo Higuain's pass and shot under the goalkeeper from the left side of the area.

Despite the score and the steady rain, the 8,500 fans at Toralin Stadium celebrated the rare match against the nine-team European champion by doing a Mexican wave in the game's dying minutes.

''Saturday's match is in the past,'' Callejon said. ''(Today) we completed our objective.''

Elsewhere, Valencia, currently third in the league, drew 0-0 at third-division Cadiz.

Two more top flight clubs, Villarreal and Zaragoza, were both held to 1-1 draws by their respective third-tier opponents, Mirandes and Alcorcon.

Real Sociedad looks set for a place in the next round after a 4-1 home win over Granada.

Malaga won 1-0 at Getafe thanks to 18-year-old Juanmi Jimenez's late winner.

In other matches between first division clubs, Racing Santander edged Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at home, while Sporting Gijon won 1-0 at Mallorca.

San Roque hosts Sevilla later.

In previous first legs, 2009 champion Barcelona beat Hospitalet 1-0, Athletic Bilbao won 1-0 at Oviedo and Atletico Madrid lost 2-1 at third-tier Albacete.

The return legs will be played next week.

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