Real Madrid’s latest appeal against their expulsion from the Copa del Rey has been rejected by the Spanish courts, the Primera Division club have confirmed.
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Cheryshev scored the first goal of Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Cadiz in Ramon de Carranza Stadium, but he was taken out of the game early in the second half when the visitors learned he had been banned for one match.
After they had been thrown out of the competition initially, Real Madrid said they were sure “the final resolution will be favourable to the club”, and had still been advertising tickets to the return leg in the run-up to their appeal hearing.
Villarreal is two places and six points behind Madrid, and Benitez is not expecting an easy game.
Meanwhile, Cadiz coach Claudio Barragan admits he has been “disappointed” with the way Madrid have acted.
Cheryshev was booked three times for Villarreal in last season’s competition, so should have served a suspension in the match.
“I have my opinion”, Barragan expressed.
“He is a fundamental player for us and I want him to continue scoring goals so that he is relaxed and helping Real Madrid, which is what interests me most”, Benitez added.
“That’s all I can say”.
Sergio Ramos is back and it remains to be seen whether he will need to take some more games off after this meeting with Villarreal.
The RFEF described Madrid’s argument as “strange” and that not disqualifying them would imply that clubs could field ineligible players without being punished.
“At this moment no-one has said anything about playing [the return leg] in Madrid”. The important thing is to carry on this run of good play and results that we must maintain.
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“And the person who made the error, should own up”.
