Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid recovered from a disappointing midweek loss at Girona by beating lowly Almería 4-2 at home in La Liga on Saturday.
Benzema opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a close range shot from a Vinícius Júnior cross and extended Real’s lead 12 minutes later after a magnificent individual play by Rodrygo.
He netted his third from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute after Lucas Vázquez was fouled inside the box. Lázaro tried to put Almería back in the game by scoring from point-blank range three minutes later but Real extended their lead right after the break after Rodrygo rifled a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.
Real wasted several chances to extend their lead further with Rodrygo and Vinícius missing sitters from close range and Benzema and Marco Asensio hitting the post twice.