Benzema Scores Hat-trick As Real Madrid Thrash Barcelona

Karim Mostafa Benzema  scored a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid routed Barcelona to reach the Copa del Rey final.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Madrid levelled the tie through Vinicius Jr in first-half stoppage time.

Benzema added two goals early in the second half – the second from the penalty spot – to put the visitors in control and completed his hat-trick to seal the win in the 80th minute.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will face Osasuna in the final on 6 May.

Barcelona had the better of a feisty first half at the Nou Camp, but their best chance led directly to Madrid’s opener in first-half injury time.

After keeper Thibaut Courtois got down smartly to stop Robert Lewandowski’s effort, the away side broke quickly and, after exchanging passes with Benzema, Vinicius squeezed his effort into the bottom corner.

Five minutes after the break, Madrid were in front on aggregate as Luka Modric drove forward and rolled the ball into the path of Benzema, who swept the ball home from the edge of the area.

Xavi’s side were reeling and when Franck Kessie needlessly brought Vinicius down in the box, Benzema sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot to extend the lead.

The France striker got his third with 10 minutes remaining after a devastating Madrid counter, again led by Vinicius, with Barcelona having committed men forward searching for a way back into the tie.

It was Benzema’s second hat-trick in successive games after achieving the feat last Sunday against Real Valladolid.

Karim Benzema is now the 1st Real Madrid player since Ivan Zamorano in 1995 to score a hat-trick vs Barcelona in El Clasico. 

Benzema is also the 1st Real Madrid player since Ferenc Puskás in 1963 to score a hat-trick vs Barca at the Camp Nou

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/samirsynthesis/status/1643702607972651008?s=20

 

 

https://twitter.com/aartqrs453/status/1643714710976733192?s=20

 

➪ Barcelona (1) 0-4 (4) Real Madrid

Benzema hace HAT-TRICK vs Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/duQcnd5gvk

— CRACKS (@cracks_oficial) April 5, 2023

 

 

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