Madrid Destroys Valladolid Thanks To Benzema’s Seven-Minute Hat-Trick.
In a seven-minute burst, Karim Benzema scored a sensational hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Real Valladolid 6-0 on Sunday in La Liga.
After Barcelona’s victory over Elche on Saturday, the champions, who are currently in second place, are now 12 points back. Both teams have 11 games left to play.
The Carlo Ancelotti team destroyed the helpless visitors, who were 16th and a point above the drop zone, as they warmed up for their Copa del Rey semi-final matchup with their arch-rivals on Wednesday.
Before Benzema’s hat-trick, which included an impressive acrobatic effort, Rodrygo Goes scored the game’s first goal. Marco Asensio added the game’s fifth goal in the second half, and Lucas Vazquez added a late goal.
As Madrid erupted in the springtime sun at the Santiago Bernabeu, Rodrygo had yet another goal disallowed for handball by Vinicius Junior, who provided the assists for two of Benzema’s goals.
After 22 minutes, Rodrygo buried the opening goal after Asensio set him up. This started the scoring.
After 29 minutes, Benzema scored the second goal thanks to a cross from Vinicius, and four minutes later, the Brazilian again found his French striking partner, who curled the ball home from the edge of the box.
At 36 minutes, Benzema scored his third goal of the game when Rodrygo crossed, and he expertly executed an overhead kick from the six-yard box for his 14th La Liga goal of the year.
The 35-year-old passed Enes Unal of Getafe to overtake him as the division’s second-leading scorer, trailing only Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona (17 goals).
After replacing Benzema, Belgian winger Eden Hazard made his first league appearance since September as Madrid slowed down in the second half.
Asensio was set up by Rodrygo to score from close range, and Hazard set up Lucas Vazquez to complete the rout in toppage time.
As Madrid honed their teeth for the Clasico match midweek, Vinicius was likewise given a break.
Los Blancos suddenly appear much more threatening after failing to test Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 1-0 first-leg loss in March.