Real Madrid enters the Copa del Rey final after a hat-trick from Karim Benzema
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 4-0 in the match to win the Copa del Rey semi-final 4-1 on aggrerate. As Vinicius Jr. opened the scoring for Real at the Nou Camp, Karim Benzema grabbed a hat-trick. On May 6, Carlo Ancelotti’s group will compete against Osasuna.
Real Madrid defeated LaLiga leaders Barcelona 4-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Copa del Rey final in spectacular fashion. This is possible thanks to a hat-trick from Karim Benzema.
After winning the first leg of the semi-final by a score of 1-0 at the Bernabeu last month, Barca, who was vying for a fourth straight Clasico triumph this season, appeared to be headed for the championship game.
Nevertheless, after controlling the first half of the second leg, they unexpectedly crumbled to lose 4-1 overall.
A quick counterattack by Vinicius Junior gave Real the lead in first-half stoppage time. Benzema’s corner kick from five minutes into the second half, after a feed from Luka Modric, changed the course of the semi-final.
Vinicius was fouled in the area eight minutes later. Then, Benzema smashed his penalties past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Barcelona attempted to retaliate as jeers reverberated around Nou Camp. However, according to an expert, Real Madrid was more likely to increase its lead given Benzema’s relentless performance.
He was once more set up by Vinicius in the 80th minute to complete his second hat-trick in as many days, having had scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid.
Real will be confident that they can win the trophy for the 20th time. They will be playing against Osasuna in the championship game on May 6. Real defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on aggregate on Tuesday.
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez: “Congratulations to Real Madrid, who had a great second half. If you show Madrid mercy, they don’t show you mercy.
“It will be hard to sleep, as I am from Barcelona and many of the squad are. But on Thursday, we think about Girona.”
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “It was a complete match. If you don’t make it complete, you can’t win 0-4 here.
“In the first half, we had difficulties but the first goal changes the dynamics of the whole match.
“It’s a game in which personality and experience is a very important aspect. We mixed the energy of Rodrygo, Valverde and Camavinga with the experience of Vini, Modric, Kroos. They played a spectacular game.”
On Monday, Barcelona will have another tough match. The high profile team will play Girona at the Nou Camp. The game will begin at 8 p.m. With 11 games left in the season, Xavi Hernandez’s team leads Real Madrid by 12 points at the top of the standings.
The next game for Real Madrid will also be thrilling. The team will face Villarreal on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Santiago Bernabeu. Before Barca play two days later, Carlo Ancelotti’s club has the opportunity to cut the deficit to eight points.
