Karim Benzema scored a seven minute hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Valladolid 6-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The first half treble meant he became the first player in the club’s history to score over 20 goals in 11 seasons. Club legends Raul and Alfredo di Stefano both managed it in 10 seasons now the 35-year-old is in a league of his own.
Benzema’s goals on 29, 32 and 36 minutes mean he will take most of the plaudits but Rodrygo Goes was man of the match and Ancelotti positioning him behind Benzema in the line of three behind the striker was also a change in system from Carlo Ancelotti who will have liked what he saw.
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Valladolid on Sunday
Benzema netted three goals in the space of seven minutes in the first half of the game
The Italian has stuck fast to his favoured 4-3-3 this season but he will now be tempted to use this 4-2-3-1 against Barcelona on Wednesday in the Spanish Cup semi-final second leg in which Madrid trail 1-0, and against Chelsea the following week in the Champions League.
It was almost a Roque horror show start for Real Madrid with the former Swansea midfielder Roque Mesa causing mayhem. First he smacked the crossbar from the edge of the area and then his raking pass found Lucas Rosa who crossed for Monchu to shoot wide.
But on 23 minutes Madrid were ahead. Eduardo Camavinga started it and Rodrygo finished it. The Frenchman playing at left-back won the ball back deep in the home team’s half. He gave it to Aurelien Tchhouameni who fed Marco Asensio. He rolled it to Rodrygo who beat Sergio Asenjo in the Valladolid goal.
On 28 minutes it was two when Vinicius tricked his way inside from the left and picked out Benzema in the six-yard box. The French forward stooped to score from a low diving header after the ball had bounced.
The striker put the game to bed in the first half as Madrid made a statement at the Bernabeu
Madrid closed the gap to Barcelona to 12 points with an emphatic performance
And Benzema got another three minutes later after Rodrygo played the ball forward to Vinicius and the nudged it into Benzema’s path. This time his finish was a curling shot into the corner putting the game beyond doubt before the break.
There was no stopping him now and four minute later when Rodrygo’s cross was behind him he volleyed it in from close range with a spectacular bicycle kick for 4-0.
Kike Perez came on at the break and almost immediately hit the post with a shot that had beaten Courtois but not the frame of the goal. Rodrygo then hit a Valladolid post as Real Madrid tried to extend their lead.
On 65 minutes Madrid were so comfortable they could afford to bring on Eden Hazard and he was whistled on to the pitch by the home supporters. It was Benzema who made way. Real Madrid might have all but given up on catching Barcelona but Benzema is closing in on Robert Lewandowski and is now just three league goals behind the Pole in Spain’s top scorer list. His afernoon’s work was done.
There was almost a goal immediately after the change but Rodrgyo’s goal was ruled out by VAR because Vinicius had used his arm in the build-up. Finally the fifth came when Asensio scored from the brilliant Rodrygo.
All that was missing was a goal from Hazard. In his first start since playing in the Cup in January and only his fourth league game of the season he toiled but the goal never came and he looked heavy even against an exhausted Valladolid defence. He did tee up the sixth though. Asenjo’s throw went straight to the Belgian and he put Lucas Vazquez in to score.
It capped a very productive afternoon for the team. Madrid had shown that they are still full of goals and ready for the big cup games to come.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
