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Karim Benzema produced a remarkable performance as Real Madrid secured a place in the Copa del Rey final with a stunning 4-1 victory over Barcelona. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Madrid levelled the tie through Vinicius Jr in first-half stoppage time. Benzema then added two goals early in the second half – the second from the penalty spot – to put the visitors in control and completed his hat-trick to seal the win in the 80th minute.
The France striker’s treble was his second in successive games after achieving the feat last Sunday against Real Valladolid. Madrid had the better of a feisty first half at the Nou Camp, but their best chance led directly to their opener in first-half injury time. After keeper Thibaut Courtois got down smartly to stop Robert Lewandowski’s effort, the away side broke quickly and, after exchanging passes with Benzema, Vinicius squeezed his effort into the bottom corner.
Five minutes after the break, Madrid were in front on aggregate as Luka Modric drove forward and rolled the ball into the path of Benzema, who swept the ball home from the edge of the area. Xavi’s side were reeling and when Franck Kessie needlessly brought Vinicius down in the box, Benzema sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot to extend the lead. The France striker got his third with 10 minutes remaining after a devastating Madrid counter, again led by Vinicius, with Barcelona having committed men forward searching for a way back into the tie.
Madrid had a point to prove going into the second leg, a distant second in La Liga and having lost the last three Clasico meetings. For much of the first half it looked as though they would end the night with just the Champions League to play for in the remaining two months of the season. But just when they might have been contemplating that reality, a blistering counter-attack at the end of the opening period changed the game. Madrid came out after the break with renewed energy and confidence, showing their class in a ruthless second-half display for which Barca had no answer.
Los Blancos end Barca’s run of Clasico wins and will now face Osasuna in the final on 6 May. Barcelona can console themselves with the fact they are closing in on a first league title since 2019, having already won the Spanish Super Cup. For Ancelotti’s team, though, there is now a dual purpose – the pursuit of back-to-back Champions League wins and a first Copa del Rey triumph in nine years.