England striker Michael Owen scored for the third successive match for Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday as they cruised to a 2-1 victory over third-division outfit Leganes in the first round of the Spanish Cup.
The England international slotted home the second after a fine pass from inside the area by strike partner Fernando Morientes, who had earlier benefited from Owen’s shot being beaten away by the goalkeeper for him to bundle home the first.
An under-strength Real side — who had scraped through against the same opposition 4-3 after extra-time last year in the same competition — had a few nervy moments in the second half after Leganes’s Dani Ruiz scored with a brilliant curling free-kick from wide out on the left in the 55th minute.
Real’s fellow championship side Deportivo la Coruna also progressed as a brace from Diego Tristan saw them to a 2-0 victory over fourth-division Cerceda.
On Wednesday, the majority of the ties will be played with Spanish champions Valencia looking for a much-needed boost after two successive defeats away, at second-division Lleida, while title leaders Barcelona visit third-division Gramanet. — Sapa-AFP