Real Madrid defeated Real Valladolid 6-0 on Sunday in La Liga after Karim Benzema scored a seven-minute hat-trick. Also, Champions Real Madrid, second, is 12 points behind Barcelona with 11 games left. Villarreal, sixth, upset fourth-place Real Sociedad 2-0, and Atletico Madrid, fifth, overcame Betis 1-0.
Real Madrid wins 6-0 with Benzema’s hat-trick
Real beat Valladolid, 16th and a point above the drop zone, to prepare for their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday. Rodrygo Goes scored early, followed by Benzema’s hat trick, including an acrobatic goal. Also, Marco Asensio’s sixth in the second half and Lucas Vazquez’s late goal.
Rodrygo opened the scoring after 22 minutes after Asensio set him up. Vinicius Junior assisted two Benzema goals. After 36 minutes, the French forward completed his hat-trick with an overhead shot from within the six-yard box for his 14th La Liga goal. Therefore, the 35-year-old scored 17 league goals, second only to Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski. Ancelotti was pleased with his attackers.
Moreover, Real slowed in the second half, with Eden Hazard replacing Benzema. Hazard assisted Lucas Vazquez to complete the onslaught in stoppage time after Rodrygo set up Asensio to score from inside the box. Plus, Madrid sharpened their teeth by resting Vinicius before the Clasico midweek. After losing the first leg 1-0 to Barcelona in March, Los Blancos look more threatening. Valladolid must battle relegation. Later, Angel Correa’s goal gave third-placed Atletico a late win over Betis at the Metropolitano.
So, Betis lost their first league game in seven games after Jose Gimenez hit the bar with a header early in the second half, Koke was disallowed for offside, and Juanmi came close. Correa scored with four minutes left after twice getting lucky on the edge of the box, slipping into space, and finishing effectively.
Real Madrid leads the Rojiblancos by five points. Also, Villarreal scored late against Real Sociedad when Samu Chukwueze was fouled. And Dani Parejo converted the penalty. So, substitute Jackson scored the second but was sent off for two yellow cards. Almeria tied Celta Vigo.
