Real Madrid's Benzema in 'optimal condition' - Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti said Karim Benzema is back in «optimal condition» and still among the world's best after the forward scored a hat trick to fire Real Madrid into the Copa del Rey final with a 4-0 win over Barcelona.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring before half-time at Camp Nou before Benzema scored three times in 30 minutes to overturn Barca's 1-0 first leg lead and book Madrid's place in the final against Osasuna on May 6.

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It was Benzema's second hat trick in three days after he also scored three times in Madrid's 6-0 LaLiga victory over Real Valladolid on Sunday, to make it 19 goals in all competitions since the World Cup.

«The work [Benzema] did during the international break helped a lot,» Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference on Wednesday. «He's found his optimal condition again, and with the quality he has, the physical condition that supports that quality makes the difference.»

Benzema faced criticism earlier this season after a series of muscular injuries left him struggling to recapture the form that won him the 2022 Ballon d'Or.

«Why not?» Ancelotti said when asked if, aged 35, Benzema stood a chance of retaining the award. «He's still one of the best players — not forwards, but players — in the world right now, without doubt. When he's healthy, he makes the difference.»

Madrid's 4-0 win at Camp Nou was the team's best result away at Barcelona in 60 years and came having lost their previous three El Clasico meetings.

«The boiler has reached the right temperature again,» Ancelotti said, when asked if he was proud of the performance. «This is the most important moment of the season and when