Madrid: Karim Benzema scored a stunning hat-trick in a seven-minute salvo as Real Madrid thumped Real Valladolid 6-0 on Sunday in La Liga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Champions Real Madrid, second, sit 12 points behind leaders Barcelona after the Catalans beat Elche on Saturday, with 11 games remaining each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The race for a top four spot intensified as Villarreal, sixth, beat fourth-place Real Sociedad 2-0, and Atletico Madrid earned a 1-0 win over Betis in fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid warmed up for their Copa del Rey semi-final clash on Wednesday with arch-rivals Barcelona in style by dismantling Valladolid, 16th and a point above the drop zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodrygo Goes opened the scoring early on, before Benzema’s hat-trick, including a spectacular acrobatic effort, with Marco Asensio netting the fifth in the second half and Lucas Vazquez adding another late on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Karim is a spectacular player, a world-class star, he’s been here 14 years and year after year he scores goals,” Vazquez told DAZN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Year after year he’s been Madrid’s number nine, there’s not much left to say about him, I’m very happy for him and enjoying (playing with) him in each game.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting in a central attacking midfield role, Rodrygo slotted home the opener after 22 minutes after being teed up by Asensio to open the floodgates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vinicius Junior set up two goals for strike partner Benzema, who took them with aplomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The French forward completed his hat-trick after 36 minutes when he pulled off an impressive overhead effort from inside the six-yard box for his 14th goal of the season in La Liga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 35-year old became the division’s second top goalscorer, behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski on 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ancelotti’s attacking line-up paid dividends and the coach said he was delighted with his forwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The four up front delivered, in all aspects,” said Ancelotti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Everyone combined very well, alternating movements, with mobility, attacking from deep, that’s what we were looking for.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coach said he might start Rodrygo against Barcelona at Camp Nou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Rodrygo is not ruled out against Barca, because he’s very dangerous at the moment, there’s a possibility he could play,” added Ancelotti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s hard to make the line up for Wednesday, it’s not a normal cup tie, we have a disadvantage (after the first leg) and we have to do something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Having Rodrygo, whatever situation it’s in, I will be calmer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Madrid slowed down in the second half, with Belgian winger Eden Hazard making his first league appearance since September as a substitute for Benzema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Rodrygo set up Asensio to blast home from inside the area, Hazard teed up Lucas Vazquez to round off the rout in stoppage time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vinicius was also given a rest ahead of the Clasico clash midweek, as Madrid sharpened their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having failed to trouble Barcelona in the 1-0 first leg defeat in March, Los Blancos look far more dangerous now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valladolid face a tough fight against relegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Any set-back melts us like a sugar cube,” said their coach Pacheta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We can’t not commit fouls, we can’t let them run at us, we made too many mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We have to be a lot stronger in attack, in defence, in transition, in everything.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, third, and in fine form since the World Cup, snatched a late win over Betis at the Metropolitano thanks to Angel Correa’s goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defender Jose Gimenez hit the bar with a header early in the second half and Koke had a goal ruled out for offside, while Juanmi came close for Betis, who suffered their first league defeat in seven games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atletico took the lead with four minutes to go when Correa broke the deadlock after twice getting a lucky break on the edge of the box, before skipping into space and finishing well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rojiblancos are five points behind Real Madrid and six points ahead of Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villarreal took the lead late on against Real Sociedad when Samu Chukwueze was felled in the area and Dani Parejo slotted home the penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Substitute Nicholas Jackson netted the second but was later sent off for two yellow cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Celta Vigo were held 2-2 by Almeria, 18th.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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