Real Madrid have been expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player against Cadiz on Wednesday, the BBC reports.

Denis Cheryshev opened the scoring as Real beat the third-tier side 3-1 in the first leg of their last-32 tie.

The Russian winger, 24, should have been serving a one-match ban – imposed while he was on loan at Villarreal last season – but he and Real claim they were not informed before the game.

Real have won the competition 19 times, with their last success in 2014.

Cheryshev was substituted just after half-time, when Real had realised their error. Coach Rafael Benitez said they wanted to “show good faith”.

The club’s president, Florentino Perez, said on Thursday the club would fight any sanction.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported Real will appeal against the decision to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and, if necessary, the country’s sport court, TAD.

Osasuna were expelled from last year’s competition for fielding an ineligible player, and Benitez was in charge of Valencia when they were disqualified from the 2001 competition for selecting too many non-EU players in a tie.