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Real Madrid started the new year with a convincing 3-0 win over second-division outfit CD Numancia in the Copa del Rey. Zinedine Zidane made quite a few changes in the starting line-up as expected, and the most notable inclusion was that of Gareth Bale, who converted a penalty in the first half to score his first goal in domestic competitions since September.
Goals from Isco, who also scored from a penalty that was awarded to the visitors in the 89th minute when Lucas Vazquez was tripped by Carlos Gutierrez, and Borja Mayoral's header during added time capped off a brilliant display from Los Blancos.
The second leg will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu next week and the Copa del Rey remains the club's most realistic target in terms of silverware this season. Without further delay, let's take a closer look at how players from both sides fared during the game:
CD Numancia
Munir Mohamedi - 5/10
The shot-stopper could not do a lot about the way in which his side conceded the two penalties and never looked like saving them either.
Carlos Gutierrez - 4/10
Gutierrez would feel that he was robbed by Lucas Vazquez for Real Madrid's second penalty of the night in the dying moments. There was very little contact but the referee pointed to the spot, summing up his fortunes on the night.
Unai Medina - 4/10
The full-back was kept quite busy by the likes of Marco Asensio and Vazquez since the start of the game and he never looked like posing a threat while going forward.
Dani Calvo - 5/10
The young defender had to show good awareness and nerves of steel whenever Real pushed forward with the ball. Calvo's positioning wasn't all that bad and he managed to have a decent game before the red card and penalties blew off Numancia's chances.
Adrian Ripa - N/A
The skipper picked up an injury and was taken off in the 20th minute, a huge blow for Numancia early on.
Dani Nieto - 5/10
The former Barcelona man was playing in a Clasico of his own and would feel that he deserved to be awarded a penalty. Nieto was brought down by Theo Hernandez inside the area but the referee denied the hosts a chance to get back into the game by denying what looked like a clear penalty.
Gregorio Sierra Perez - 4/10
Perez failed to get going and could not track the runs from his opponents on a few occasions. The midfielder was taken off in the 63rd minute and was replaced by Inigo Perez.
Pere Milla - 5/10
The winger failed to cause any problems whatsoever and could have done well with more involvement on the ball. Milla was forced to track back to try and retrieve possession as the visitors gained control.
Pape Maly Diamanka - 3/10
The Senegalese received marching orders from the referee right at the hour mark when he picked up a second yellow card for a horrendous challenge on Nacho. Diamanka's lapse in concentration derailed Numancia's chances of staging a comeback.
Pablo Larrea - 5/10
Larrea was neat in possession but failed to assert any dominance without the ball. The midfielder struggled after the hosts were down to ten men and the introduction of Kovacic and Isco didn't help him either.
Higinio Marin - 6/10
The striker worked tirelessly in the first half and even drifted wide to try and stretch the visitor's backline. Marin did a lot of dirty work and could have done well with a little help from his teammates.
Substitutes:
Luis Valcarce - 4/10
The full-back was introduced in the 20th minute to replace the injured Adrian Ripa. Valcarce failed to add any steel at the back and was taken off in the 46th minute.
Inigo Perez - 6/10
The midfielder impressed after coming on for Sierra Perez in the second half and his audacious attempt from the halfway line hit the cross-bar and stayed out with the scoreboard still reading 1-0. With a little more luck, Perez could have made the headlines but it was not meant to be.
Marc Mateu - 4/10
The midfielder came on for Valcarce in the 46th minute, a surprising change that yielded nothing significant for the hosts.
Real Madrid
Kiko Casilla - 6/10
Casilla did not have to make any challenging saves throughout the game but he was nearly caught out by Inigo Perez's long-range effort that stayed out after hitting the cross-bar.
Dani Carvajal - 6/10
The Spaniard was Zidane's only choice from the 3-0 loss against Barcelona in the El Clasico. Carvajal had a game of two halves really and enjoyed his involvement in the second half while pushing forward on every opportunity.
Nacho - 7/10
Nacho captained Los Blancos on the night with great maturity and showed good awareness on the night. The defender continued to be very dependable at the back for the European champions.
Jesus Vallejo - 6/10
The youngster was paired alongside Nacho in the heart of the defence and produced a decent display with his quick feet at the back. Vallejo was robust in his challenges and also picked up a silly booking in the second half.
Theo Hernandez - 5/10
Not the best of performances from the left-back who was lucky to escape without conceding a penalty for dragging down Nieto in front of goal. Theo offered nothing while going forward and was falling down way too easily instead of taking on his opponents.
Dani Ceballos - 7/10
Ceballos was neat and tidy in possession throughout the game. The midfielder made a few incisive runs and showcased his extensive passing range that boasts of accurate short passes and pinpoint long balls.
Marcos Llorente - 5/10
The midfielder's mistake allowed Inigo Perez to come ever so close to scoring from the halfway line in the second half. Llorente could not impose his presence in the game and faded off eventually.
Gareth Bale - 7/10
Bale converted the penalty with ease and enjoyed his involvement in the first half. The Welshman was taken off in the 60th minute and is likely to feature more frequently for Real's upcoming games.
Lucas Vazquez - 8/10
The tricky winger was a little too much to handle for Numancia on the night. Vazquez's quick feet and nimble movement made it all the more easier for his teammates as he won two penalties for the visitors.
Marco Asensio - 6/10
The intent was certainly there but Asensio could not quite muster any end product at the end of all that. Perhaps his involvement down the middle isn't as effective as compared to his natural position out on the flanks.
Borja Mayoral - 6/10
Mayoral was anonymous for a major part of the game and squandered a good chance in front of goal. However, he was at the right place at the right time to find the back of the net with his head in the 91st minute, following a peach of a cross from substitute Achraf Hakimi.
Substitutes:
Mateo Kovacic - 6/10
The Croatian replaced Bale at the hour mark and did well to ensure that Real dominated the proceedings in midfield. Kovacic was quick to turn defence into attack and caused some problems for Numancia, who were down to 10 men.
Isco - 6/10
Isco replaced Dani Ceballos in the 74th minute and found some redemption from the penalty spot after he missed a glorious chance prior to it.
Achraf Hakimi - 6/10
The young full-back replaced Marco Asensio in the 85th minute and produced a gem of a cross to find Mayoral in the build-up to Real Madrid's final goal of the night.
