Real Madrid Humiliate Barcelona 4-0! Karim Benzema Hat-trick Takes Los Blancos to Copa Del Rey Final

The French striker scored thrice in the second half after Vinicius Junior scored the opener right before halftime. Real Madrid won 4-1 on aggregate as Barcelona won the first leg of match 1-0 at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu over a month ago.

Barcelona started the game on the stronger foot as well with the best chances of the first half coming their way. Gavi and Raphinha penetrated from either side of the wings often while Sergio Busquets-led Barca midfield, along with Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie in support, dominated the middle of the park.

However, they failed to provide their striker Robert Lewandowski, who remained an isolated figure in Barcelona’s attack, allowing Real Madrid to slowly get hold of their nerves.

Benzema and Co. were hardly convincing for the first 40 minutes as they failed to build up their attack and relied on Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to get the ball into the attacking third through diagonal balls. But just when it looked that Barca’s attack is impregnable, Madrid caught Barcelona on the counter after Thibaut Courtois blocked a Lewandowski effort.

Vinicius ran with the ball through on an unguarded midfield and played a one-two to perfection with Benzema before taking a shot at the goal. His goal-bound effort, however, was blocked by Jules Kounde but the ball had enough momentum to cross the line. Close to the ball, Benzema ensured the goal counts before Kounde could make another effort to clear it.

It was all Real Madrid from the second half onwards as Benzema put Madrid forward on aggregate for the first time in the semis in the 50th minute. Benzema brought his class to the game with an inch-perfect shot from the edge of the box after Modric made those trademark mazy runs through Barcelona’s defence from the flank to feed the French striker.

Eight minutes later, Benzema put the match beyond Barca’s reach as he scored from the spot after sending shot-stopper Marc Ander Ter Stegen the wrong way. The penalty was earned after Vinicius was fouled Kessie inside the box. The foul was more down to Vinicius’s cleverness as he touched the ball away at the right time before Kessie’s tackle landed on his ankle.

Benzema sealed his hat-trick in the 80th minute with Vinicius charging down the left flank once more. The Brazilian skipped past Eric Garcia with ease while showing his trickery and fed a low cross to Benzema, who took an extra touch before slotting it behind Ter Stegen.

Real Madrid threatened to pile on Barcelona’s misery more with threatening attacks. However, a melee soon broke out between the two groups of players with Vinicius getting into a tiff with Ronald Araujo, who then pushed his compatriot onto the ground.

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelloti did the job of a fire extinguisher as he made a series of substitutions, including Vinicius and Benzema to end the commotion while the match ended with no further change in the scoreline.