Benitez at heart of humiliating Real Madrid season

Things are going from bad to worse for Real Madrid and Rafa Benitez in 2015-16. Less than two weeks after their humiliating 4-0 loss at home to Barcelona in the Clasico, they now face elimination from the Copa del Rey for fielding a player who should have been suspended.

Russian winger Denis Cheryshev spent last season on loan at Villarreal and collected three yellow cards in the cup competiton - against Getafe, Real Sociedad and Barcelona. He was therefore banned from Madrid's match at Cadiz on Wednesday, but started as Rafa rotated his pack and scored the first goal in a 3-1 win.

The football was secondary as word went around of what was happening and some fans chanted: "Benitez, look at Twitter!" Cheryshev was eventually substituted at the start of the second half, Mateo Kovacic coming on in his place.

Isco scored twice after that and Kike Marquez grabbed a late consolation, but all eyes were on Benitez and Madrid after the match.

"We had no idea Cheryshev was ineligible," the Madrid coach said in the post-match press conference. "As soon as we realised, we took him off in an act of good faith."

For their part, Cadiz confirmed they will make an official complaint about Cheryshev and the matter will now rest in the hands of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), with a decision expected on Friday.

Speaking to Canal Plus afterwards, Madrid's director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, said: "Nobody informed us that Cheryshev was unable to play. I have spoken to the federation, but we will have to wait and see."

The news is unlikely to be good for Real - especially after Cadena SER published a fax sent to all clubs with a list of suspended players ahead of the latest round of Copa del Rey fixtures. 'Cheryshev (one match)' was clearly mentioned halfway down the list.

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