Karim Benzema scored an exceptional first-half hat-trick to inspire Real Madrid to a 6-0 LaLiga win over Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Los Blancos’ title chances may resemble little more than a pipe dream with Barcelona 12 points adrift, but Benzema’s heroics at least helped ensure they didn’t fall further behind this weekend.
It didn’t always seem likely to produce such a one-sided scoreline, but Madrid’s slow start petered out to a four-goal haul in less than quarter of an hour – Benzema’s seven-minute treble coming after a well-worked Rodrygo opener.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men continued their dominance in the second half, with Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez getting involved to complete an empathetic victory.
Madrid were under pressure during a breathless opening.
Roque Mesa hit Thibaut Courtois’ left post and Monchu agonizingly fired wide of the bottom left corner.
The response from Los Blancos was overwhelming.
Rodrygo ran on to Asensio’s pass on the right edge of the box before firing home in the 22nd minute to give Benzema an early lead.
He stooped to head home Vinicius Junior’s teasing delivery to open his account and then added a spectacular second when he picked out the top-right corner from 20 yards.
Benzema’s third was the best option, but Lucas Vazquez’s cross was met with an improvised overhead kick.
Valladolid hit the post again early in the second half through Kike Perez.
But Madrid continued to dominate when Rodrygo’s goal was disallowed just before the hour due to Vinicius’ handball.
Asensio had no such bad luck when he headed home from 10 yards after Rodrygo was brought down, and Vazquez capped a fine day late on when he converted from Eden Hazard’s through ball.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois – 5/10 – Helped out by his woodwork on numerous occasions.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – 7/10 – Scampered forward gleefully with ample room down the right flank.
CB: Eder Militao – 8/10 – Scarcely put a foot wrong in a commanding display.
CB: David Alaba – 6/10 – Solid if not spectacular.
LB: Eduardo Camavinga – 7/10 – Unfazed by anything thrown at him, the unflappable 20-year-old was supremely serene once again.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 7/10 – Swept up at the base of midfield calmly.
CM: Toni Kroos – 7/10 – Hardly misplaced a single pass as while repeatedly spotted the widening gaps in Valladolid’s shape.
AM: Rodrygo – 9/10 – Utterly electric dancing and darting between the lines.
RW: Marco Asensio – 8/10 – Got the goals his performance warranted long after the match had been decided.
ST: Karim Benzema – 10/10 – Jose Mourinho once likened Benzema to a cat as part of a thinly veiled insult but Madrid’s number nine was purring throughout on Sunday.
LW: Vinicius Junior – 9/10 – Wreaking havoc swaying between the purple shirts which collapsed in his path.
Substitutes
Eden Hazard (65′ for Benzema) – 5/10
Jesus Vallejo (69′ for Alaba) – 5/10
Dani Ceballos (73′ for Vinicius) – 5/10
Alvaro Odriozola (82′ for Rodrygo) – N/A
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti – 7/10 – His side didn’t have it all their own way throughout the match but he set up his vastly superior squad in a way that mercilessly routed the visitors.
Player of the match – Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
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