Karim Benzema scored three goals in seven minutes of the first half, leading Real Madrid to a landslide 6-0 victory at home to Real Valladolid, and narrowing the gap with Barcelona, leaders of the Spanish Premier League, to 12 points.
This trio raised Benzema’s score to 14 goals in the league this season, making him second in the scorers’ list, three goals behind Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski.
Rodrigo opened the goals from a fluid counter-attack after 22 minutes from the start, opening the way for Benzema to lead the goal march at the Santiago Bernabeu and scored a hat-trick in the first half for Real Madrid, for the first time in his career.
Benzema scored his first goal with a header after a cross from Vinicius Junior, while narrowly avoiding a collision with the far post.
The Brazilian winger made the second goal with a simple pass to the French striker, to score from the edge of the penalty area.
The 35-year-old completed the hat-trick when he turned his body in front of the goal and followed a cross pass from Rodrygo that came behind him, to score while his back was to the goal.
Rodrigo made another assist in the second half, when Marco Asensio exchanged the ball with the Brazilian striker, before he fired into the net.
Eden Hazard made the last goal when he hit the ball from a stray pass, and passed it to Lucas Vazquez to put the ball into the goal in stoppage time.
Real Valladolid, who lost for the second time in a row in the league, is 16th, one point above the relegation zone.
