Karim Benzema Records Fastest Hat-Trick Of His Career As Real Madrid Score Six In Big Win Over Valladolid
Real Madrid 6-0 Real Valladolid
Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid cruised to a 6-0 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez were also scorers at the Bernabeu as Madrid moved to within 12 points of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who had won 4-0 at Elche 24 hours earlier.
All of Madrid's goals came after Roque Mesa had struck the post at the other end.
Karim Benzema pictured celebrating after scoring a hat-trick of goals for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/Alberto Gardin
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a powerful run by Asensio through the center of the field with the ball at his feet.
Vinicius Junior then set up Benzema to score with a diving header from close range.
Benzema's second goal of the game came courtesy of a curling strike from outside the penalty area.
His third arrived in the 36th minute via an unconventional overhead kick finish.
There were just six minutes and 30 seconds between Benzema's first goal and his third, making this the fastest hat-trick of his career.
It was also Benzema's first ever hat-trick of goals scored in the first half of a match for Madrid.
His latest trio of goals saw him close the gap between himself and Hugo Sanchez on the list of La Liga's all-time top scorers.
Benzema now has 233 La Liga goals and is fifth on the list, behind Sanchez (234), Telmo Zarra (251), Cristiano Ronaldo (311) and record-holder Lionel Messi (474).
With the game won, Benzema was substituted off midway through the second half but Madrid were still able to score two more goals.
The margin of victory could have been even greater had a VAR review not disallowed a goal by Rodrygo for a Vinicius handball in the build-up.
Highlights: Real Madrid 6-0 Real Valladolid
If neither of the above videos are available to watch where you are, La Liga's official highlights can be found on YouTube by clicking here.
