A bad couple of weeks for Real Madrid got worse still on Wednesday night, as it emerged they faced Copa del Rey elimination for fielding an ineligible player.
Breaking: Real Madrid playing the suspended Denis Cheryshev in the Copa del Rey tonight. Penalty for such an offence is usually elimination.
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 2, 2015
AS | "A joke in Cadiz." Starting Cheryshev could make Real Madrid eliminated. pic.twitter.com/KDNDubjufz
— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) December 3, 2015
Speculation on Twitter started to mount after Real named Denis Cheryshev in their starting lineup, seemingly unaware that the midfielder was banned after picking up three yellow cards while on loan at Villarreal last season:
"Benítez look at Twitter" chant.