Karim Benzema nets seven-minute hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Valladolid

The 35-year-old Frenchman now La Liga's second top scorer on 14 goals, behind only Robert Lewandowski's total of 17

Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid CF and Real Valladolid at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, 02 April 2023. EPAShow less

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.

The champions, second, sit 12 points behind leaders Barcelona after the Catalans beat Elche on Saturday, with 11 games remaining each.

Carlo Ancelotti's side warmed up for their Copa del Rey semi-final clash on Wednesday with their arch-rivals in style by dismantling the helpless visitors, 16th and a point above the drop zone.

Rodrygo 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.

Rodrygo had another goal ruled out for handball by Vinicius Junior, who set up two of Benzema's strikes, as Madrid ran riot in the spring sunshine at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The team went out with a lot of conviction, a lot of desire to win the game and to play well in front of our fans," Vazquez told DAZN.

"Karim is a spectacular player, a world-class star, he's been here 14 years and year after year he scores goals.

"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."

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their fourth goal and completing his hat trick. April 2 2023. Reuters

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.

Vinicius's cross allowed Benzema to net the second after 29 minutes, and four minutes later, the Brazilian fed his French strike partner again and the forward curled home from the edge of the box.

Benzema completed his hat-trick after 36 minutes when Rodrygo crossed and he pulled off an impressive overhead effort from inside the six-yard box for his 14th goal of the season in La Liga.

The 35-year old overtook Getafe's Enes Unal to become the division's second top goalscorer, behind Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski on 17.

Ancelotti's attacking line-up paid dividends and the coach said he was delighted with his forwards.

"The four up front delivered, in all aspects," said Ancelotti.

"Everyone combined very well, alternating movements, with mobility, attacking from deep, that's what we were looking for."

Madrid slowed down in the second half, with Belgian winger Eden Hazard making his first league appearance since September as a substitute for Benzema.

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.