Real Madrid 6-0 Real Valladolid: Karim Benzema scores first-half hat-trick in big win
Benzema #Benzema
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in the first half for the first time in his Real Madrid career
Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick in the space of seven minutes as Real Madrid hammered Real Valladolid.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Rodrygo slotted Madrid’s opener into the bottom corner from Marco Asensio’s ball before Benzema headed in Vinicius Jr’s excellent cross.
The Frenchman curled in his second from another Vinicius pass and then scored a close-range overhead kick – with Asensio and Lucas Vazquez also netting.
That was the fastest Madrid hat-trick in a La Liga game since Fernando Hierro’s three goals in six minutes in a 7-0 win over Espanyol in April 1992.
Rodrygo, who set up Benzema’s third goal and Asensio’s strike, had another finish ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a Vinicius handball and struck the woodwork too.
Valladolid, who are just one point above the relegation zone, hit the post in each half through Roque Mesa and Kike Perez.
It was a morale-boosting win for Madrid, who are practically out of the title race, but face Barca on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.
Boss Ancelotti was able to bring off key players including Benzema and Vinicius and introduce some players who have barely played recently including Eden Hazard.
The Belgian, making his first La Liga appearance since September, set up Vazquez’s injury-time goal.
Line-upsReal Madrid
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Courtois
17Vázquez3Militão4Alaba12Camavinga
8Kroos18Tchouaméni
11Asensio21Rodrygo20Vinícius Júnior
9Benzema
Substitutes
Real Valladolid
Formation 3-5-2
13Asenjo
27Fresneda24Fernández15El Yamiq
2Pérez17Mesa20Hongla8Rodríguez Jiménez39Rosa
11Plata7León
Substitutes
Referee:Juan Luis Pulido Santana
Attendance:59,400
Live Text
Match ends, Real Madrid 6, Real Valladolid 0.
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 6, Real Valladolid 0.
Goal! Real Madrid 6, Real Valladolid 0. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Attempt blocked. Selim Amallah (Real Valladolid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Éder Militão (Real Madrid).
Kike Pérez (Real Valladolid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Jesús Vallejo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dani Ceballos with a cross.
Álvaro Odriozola (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by David Torres (Real Valladolid).
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Álvaro Aguado (Real Valladolid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Attempt saved. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Álvaro Odriozola.
Attempt missed. Kike Pérez (Real Valladolid) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Hand ball by Éder Militão (Real Madrid).
Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by David Torres (Real Valladolid).