Karim Benzema hat-trick in Clasico propels Real Madrid to final

Amazing Karim Benzema. Thanks to three goals and an assist from the Frenchman, Real Madrid, beaten 1-0 in the first leg, reversed the situation and won 4-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday April 5 against FC Barcelona to join Osasuna in Spanish King’s Cup final. The Merengues unlocked their counter just before the break, on a counter flash led by Vinicius and Benzema (45th + 1), then the Ballon d’Or 2022 propelled his team to the final by placing a perfect ball at the base of the post left from Marc-André ter Stegen (50th) and converting a penalty caused by Vinicius (58th) after returning from the locker room, before completing his hat-trick in the 81st.

A dream spring for the French center-forward, already author of a majestic hat-trick on Sunday against Valladolid in La Liga, and an important goal against Liverpool to confirm the qualification of the Merengues for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A new recital for the Real striker, who now has 25 goals and six assists in all competitions this season.

Barça bends again

Conversely, the disillusion is immense for Barça coach Xavi. After three clasicos won in a row, Barça folded at home, in front of the 94,902 spectators at Camp Nou. A nightmare for the Blaugrana defense, which has conceded only nine goals since the start of the La Liga season, and which took four on Wednesday. For Ancelotti, the evening is successful: the Italian technician had bet on a very offensive composition, with Rodrygo on the right wing and Fede Valverde behind him, but the intensity deployed by his players proved him right.

He who had promised, after the defeat in the semi-finals at the Bernabéu, that Real would win at least one trophy this season, now has a highway: if the championship seems lost, the “White House” gives an appointment to Osasuna , who defeated Athletic Bilbao (1-0, 1-1 ap), on May 6 in Seville, for a Cup final that they have not won since 2014. It will be a month before another potential final: that of the Champions League, on June 10 in Istanbul.