{"id":53316,"date":"2023-04-02T19:37:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-02T19:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/04\/02\/benzemas-first-half-hat-trick-leads-real-madrid-to-six-goal-win-over\/"},"modified":"2023-04-02T19:37:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T19:37:57","slug":"benzemas-first-half-hat-trick-leads-real-madrid-to-six-goal-win-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/04\/02\/benzemas-first-half-hat-trick-leads-real-madrid-to-six-goal-win-over\/","title":{"rendered":"Benzema’s first-half hat-trick leads Real Madrid to six-goal win over"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in the first half for the first time in his Real Madrid career
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Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick in the space of seven minutes as Real Madrid hammered Real Valladolid.<\/p>\n

Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side are 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.<\/p>\n

Rodrygo slotted Madrid\u2019s opener into the bottom corner from Marco Asensio\u2019s ball before Benzema headed in Vinicius Jr\u2019s excellent cross.<\/p>\n

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The Frenchman curled in his second from another Vinicius pass and then scored a close-range overhead kick \u2013 with Asensio and Lucas Vazquez also netting.<\/p>\n

It was the fastest Madrid hat-trick in a La Liga game since Fernando Hierro\u2019s three goals in six minutes in a 7-0 win over Espanyol in April 1992.<\/p>\n

Rodrygo, who set up Benzema\u2019s third goal and Asensio\u2019s strike, had another finish ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a Vinicius handball and struck the woodwork too.<\/p>\n

Valladolid, who are just one point above the relegation zone, hit the post in each half through Roque Mesa and Kike Perez.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Belgian, making his first La Liga appearance since September, set up Vazquez\u2019s injury-time goal.<\/p>\n

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