It was a quick hat trick for Karim Benzema, and a big win for Real Madrid ahead of the last 바카라clasico바카라 of the season.
Benzema scored his three goals in a seven-minute span as Madrid crushed Valladolid 6-0 in the Spanish league on Sunday, boosting the team바카라s morale before it faces Barcelona in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.
바카라We will go to Barcelona with a lot of confidence after today바카라s game,바카라 Madrid defender David Alaba said. 바카라We know it바카라s going to be a different game, it will be tough, but we want to go there and try to get the victory.바카라
Madrid will travel to Barcelona needing to reverse on Wednesday a 1-0 first-leg loss from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti used Benzema and several other regular starters against Valladolid despite Madrid바카라s upcoming visit to the Camp Nou.
Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas VĂĄzquez also scored for second-place Madrid, which now trails leader Barcelona by 12 points in the league after the Catalan club won at last-place Elche on Saturday. Madrid maintained its gap to third-place Atletico Madrid at five points.Â
Benzema, who hadn바카라t scored in the league since February, netted his first goal with a close-range header after a cross by VinĂcius JĂșnior in the 29th minute. The Frenchman added another goal with a shot from outside the area in the 32nd, and got his third with a volley with his back to the net in the 36th.
바카라When we have Benzema playing at his best level, everything is easier,바카라 Ancelotti said.
Benzema was replaced by Eden Hazard to get some rest in the 65th, earning a loud ovation from fans at the Bernabéu.
Rodrygo had opened the scoring for Madrid with a low shot from inside the area in the 22nd after a buildup that started with Eduardo Camavinga, who improvised as a left back because of a suspension to Nacho FernĂĄndez and injuries to Antonio RĂŒdiger and Ferland Mendy.
Asensio scored the fifth goal with a left-footed shot from inside the box in the 73rd and VĂĄzquez 바카라 in his 300th match with Madrid 바카라 got the sixth in stoppage time after a pass by Hazard.
Alaba, who had been injured in the game against Liverpool in the Champions League, was back in the Madrid squad. VĂĄzquez played as a right back in place of Dani Carvajal following Carvajal바카라s stint with Spain바카라s national team. Midfielders Luka Modric and Federico Valverde started on the bench to get some rest ahead of the Copa semifinals.
Madrid hasn바카라t won the Copa since 2014. It lost 2-1 to Barcelona at the Camp Nou in a league game before the international break.
바카라There is no doubt that we are 100% prepared,바카라 Ancelotti said about the Copa game against Barcelona. 바카라Our only thought will be to get the victory.바카라
Valladolid remains without a league win against Madrid since 2008, and without a league victory at the Bernabéu since 2000.
The 16th-place team, owned by former Brazil striker Ronaldo, is one point from the relegation zone. It has won only one of its last seven league games.
ATLETICO WINS LATE
Ăngel Correa scored in the 86th as Atletico beat Real Betis 1-0 at home to strengthen its hold on third place.
The result extended Atletico바카라s unbeaten streak to 11 matches. It is six points ahead of fourth-place Real Sociedad and nine points in front of fifth-place Betis.
Diego Simeone바카라s Atletico has won six of its last seven league matches, including four in a row.
Manuel Pellegrini바카라s Betis has only one win in its last six games in all competitions.
VILLARREAL IN CONTENTION
Villarreal moved closer to a Champions League place by defeating Sociedad 2-0 at home with goals by Dani Parejo and Nicolas Jackson toward the end of the match.
It was the second straight win for sixth-place Villarreal, which is four points behind Sociedad and one behind Betis.
Struggling Sociedad has only one win in its last eight matches in all competitions.
CELTA HELD
Celta Vigo twice relinquished a lead and saw an attempt by striker Iago Aspas hit the woodwork deep into stoppage time in a disappointing 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Almeria at home.
Almeria, sitting in 18th place, has won once in its last eight league games. Tenth-place Celta had won three of its last four matches.
