Benzema hits hat-trick as Madrid smash Barca to reach Copa final

BARCELONA: Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid hammered Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou to reach the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, progressing 4-1 on aggregate. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring just before the break as Carlo Ancelotti’s side mounted a spectacular comeback from their one-goal semifinal first leg deficit, with Benzema adding a second-half treble.

After netting three at the weekend against Real Valladolid in La Liga, Benzema repeated the trick to humiliate Barcelona on a painful night for coach Xavi Hernandez in front of almost 95,000 distraught fans. Los Blancos trail their arch-rivals by 12 points in La Liga and were beaten by Barca in the Spanish Super Cup final in January, but triumphed here to reach the Copa final for the first time since 2014, where they will face Osasuna.

Madrid turfed out the record 31-time cup winners with a muscular performance on a spiky night in Barcelona, where they also ended a demoralizing run of three consecutive Clasico defeats. Ancelotti’s team dominated in the first leg but fell to a 1-0 defeat after Eder Militao’s own goal, and suffered a last-gasp sucker punch in La Liga against Barcelona in March, when the Catalans snatched a late win.

“It was important to win, then the margin of victory is another satisfaction, but the important thing was to win,” Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told RTVE. “We know what Karim gives us, for the goals he scores he’s a reference point for all of us, he always wants more.” Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto said letting in Vinicius’ goal on the stroke of half-time was a huge blow.