MADRID: A seven-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema set up Real Madrid for a 6-0 win over Valladolid in the Spanish league on Sunday, lifting morale before facing Barcelona in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.

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 Madrid’s upcoming visit to the Camp Nou.

Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vázquez 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.

Benzema, who had not scored in the league since February, netted his first goal with a close-range header after a cross by Vinícius Júnior 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.

“When we have Benzema playing at his best level, everything is easier,” 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 Fernández and injuries to Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy.

Asensio scored the fifth goal with a left-footed shot from inside the box in the 73rd and Vázquez — in his 300th match with Madrid — got the sixth in stoppage time after a pass by Hazard.

David Alaba, who had been injured in the game against Liverpool in the Champions League, was back in the Madrid squad. Vázquez played as a right back in place of Dani Carvajal following Carvajal’s stint with Spain’s national team. Midfielders Luka Modric and Federico Valverde started on the bench to get some rest ahead of the Copa semifinals.

Madrid have not won the Copa since 2014. It lost 2-1 to Barcelona at the Camp Nou in a league game before the international break.

“There is no doubt that we are 100 percent prepared,” Ancelotti said about the Copa game against Barcelona. “Our only thought will be to get the victory.”
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