Benzema scored three goals in 7 minutes and Real Madrid still dream of catching up with Barcelona in Spain

The hopes of Charles Ancelotti continue to lead real Madridand of Real Madrid in a decisive April in which the Copa del Rey drew against Barcelona and the future in the Champions League, go through the return of the best version of Karim Benzema: He regained his eye for goal this Sunday and scored three times in just seven minutes for a 5-0 victory over Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Withdrew from the French national team due to a personal dispute with DT Didier Deschamps After the last incident at the 2022 World Cup, the two-week break for the FIFA appointment has suited Benzema well. Now without the discomforts or injuries that marred his season, he is ready to make his contribution at a key moment.

He came to the duel against Real Valladolid with the obligation to refine his shot for the classic Copa del Rey on Wednesday at the Camp Nou. Benzema had only scored twice in his last six league games and it was with a brace in the same match, against the last Elche club. His team needs him well if they want to get through the series against the Catalans and reach the cup final.

Real Madrid missed their goals in three matches in which they practically said goodbye to the title, the draws against Atlético de Madrid and Betis plus the defeat in the classic against Barça.

In the painful victory of the first round in Valladolid, on his return to the championship after the World Cup in Qatar from which he had become one of the great absences, Benzema left his mark in the final minutes to decide it with a brace. Since that encounter he has only scored two more in nine days.

The need for Valladolid and the risks that Pacheta took at the Santiago Bernabéu allowed Benzema to sign his best scoring game of the season. His first hat-trick, in just six minutes, to fully enter the fight for the title of top scorer in La Liga with the Barcelona player Robert Lewandowskiwhich adds 17 goals, against his 14.

Confidence in the definition restored for Benzema. With the flair of a ‘matador’ to look for the opponent’s back and finish with a header at will after a pass from Vinícius Junior at the far post, refining his aim in the second half with a close-range shot after a feint and saving a Chilean Mezzo to close his hat-trick after an assist from Rodrygo. He did it between 29 and 36 minutes.

The Frenchman has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season. At this point, a year ago, he signed 26. And he left the game early, after 59 minutes, due to Ancelotti’s desire to take care of his body for the classic Copa del Rey semi-final and a draw on the horizon European against him Chelsea.

In the present, she suddenly regains confidence in her quest to return to her lethal identity which, as of now, she hasn’t shown this season. He signed his fourth hat-trick in La Liga, after having done it before against Rayo Vallecano, Athletic Club and two years ago against Celta. And with 233 points in the Spanish competition, it is just one of Hugo Sanchez and become the fourth tallest gunner in history. He was fired by all the Bernabéu fans standing up and with an ovation full of enthusiasm for what’s to come.

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