06.04.2023
Real Madrid swept its rival and host Barcelona 4-0, including a “hat-trick” for French star Karim Benzema on Wednesday, to qualify the royal team to the final of the Spanish Cup in football, following losing 1-0 in the semi-final first leg.
Karim Benzema scored three goals to leadreal madridTo win 4-0 at its host Barcelona and qualify for the final of the King’s Cup of Spain on Wednesday (April 5th). Barcelona, who had hoped for a fourth consecutive victory over Real Madrid this season, seemed on their way to the final following winning 1-0 in the first leg in Madrid last month.
However, despite the hosts controlling the match at the beginning, the team collapsed to lose 4-1 on the aggregate score and became Benzema The first player fromreal madrid Scored a hat-trick once morest Barcelona since Ferenc Puskas in 1963.
Vinicius Junior gave Real Madrid the lead in stoppage time for the first half, following a quick counterattack.
Things turned upside down for Barcelona when Benzema hit the net five minutes following the start of the second half, taking advantage of a pass from Luka Modric.
Eight minutes later, Real won a penalty kick following a violation of Vinicius inside the area, and Benzema succeeded in scoring from the penalty mark.
Barcelona fans booed their team, and Real Madrid seemed the closest to consolidating their superiority thanks to Benzema’s brilliance.
And in the 80th minute, Benzema took advantage of Vinicius Junior’s pass to complete a hat-trick of goals for the second time this week, following he led Real to a 6-0 victory over Real Valladolid in the league at the weekend.
Real will face Osasuna in the final, hoping to achieve its 20th title in the competition. Osasuna had booked its place in the final by defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the aggregate result.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said, “A perfect match, if it wasn’t perfect we wouldn’t have won 4-0 here. We had difficulties in the first half but the first goal completely turned the game around.”
“It’s a match in which personality and experience play an important role. We mixed the energy of Rodrygo, Valverde and Camavinga with the experience of Vinicius, Modric and Kroos. They played an amazing match.”
After suffering in front of Barcelona This season, Real Madrid avenged themselves and led by at least four goals over their rivals for the first time since 1995.
Barcelona leads the league by a large margin over Real Madrid, following beating its rivals 2-1 last month.
There were no indications that this great victory might be achieved, in light of Barcelona’s desire to qualify early and save Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois many opportunities.
The removal of Robert Lewandowski’s chance was the turning point in the match, as Real Madrid launched a counterattack and Vinicius exchanged passes with Benzema before hitting the goal.
At the beginning of the second half, Modric launched down the right side and passed the ball to Benzema, who fired it perfectly into the net.
And the collapse of coach Xabi Hernandez’s team was completed following Vinicius got a penalty kick that Benzema successfully executed.
Both teams lost nerve, but Benzema completed his hat-trick in a night to forget for Barcelona.
“I congratulate Real Madrid, who were fantastic in the second half. If you show mercy to Real Madrid, they will not have mercy on you,” said Xavi.
Real has lost only two of the last eight matches in the local cup (6 wins), as the last defeat dates back to March 2 at home once morest Barcelona (0-1).
For its part, Barcelona achieved a series of 5 successive victories in various competitions, following losing 2-1 to Manchester United in the European League competition “Europa League” and Almeria 0-1 in the league, before falling once more this evening.
A.A.J/ASH (Archyde.com, AFP, DPA)
DW News |
29.05.2022
