Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid hammered Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou to attain the Copa del Rey ultimate on Wednesday, progressing 4-1 on combination.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring simply earlier than the break as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet mounted a spectacular comeback from their one-goal semi-final first leg deficit, with Benzema including a second-half treble.
After netting three on the weekend towards Real Valladolid in La Liga, Benzema repeated the trick to humiliate Barcelona on a painful night time for coach Xavi Hernandez in entrance of just about 95,000 distraught followers.
Los Blancos path their arch-rivals by 12 factors in La Liga and have been overwhelmed by Barca within the Spanish Super Cup ultimate in January, however triumphed right here to attain the Copa ultimate for the primary time since 2014, the place they may face Osasuna.
Madrid turfed out the file 31-time cup winners with a muscular efficiency on a spiky night time in Barcelona, the place additionally they ended a demoralising run of three consecutive Clasico defeats.
Ancelotti’s group dominated within the first leg however fell to a 1-0 defeat after Eder Militao’s personal aim, and suffered a last-gasp sucker punch in La Liga towards Barcelona in March, when the Catalans snatched a late win.
Ancelotti began an attacking facet with Toni Kroos as the deepest midfielder and Eduardo Camavinga at left-back, as Los Blancos sought to overturn their slim deficit.
Xavi, with out Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen, caught to the identical system that has served Barca properly towards Madrid in latest months, with 4 midfielders together with Gavi, nominally beginning on the left wing.
The recreation began at a livid tempo and depth, each groups eager to attain the ultimate, however completely determined not to be knocked out by the opposite.
Barcelona appealed furiously for a penalty within the first couple of minutes as David Alaba blocked Gavi’s cross along with his arm, however it was planted on the ground for stability.
The Austrian defender blocked Sergi Roberto’s effort, whereas Vinicius and Ronald Araujo resumed their common working battle on the different finish.
Barca coach Xavi was booked for protesting a foul on Franck Kessie as tempers boiled over.
Thousands of Barcelona followers chanted Lionel Messi’s identify within the tenth minute, amid hypothesis he may depart Paris Saint-Germain, and they’d have dearly liked among the Argentine’s magic.
Vinicius and Gavi have been each proven yellow playing cards as they clashed, with referee Juan Martinez Munuera fast on the scene to attempt to calm issues down.
– Lethal Madrid –
Los Blancos took the lead in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half, after they confirmed their prowess on the counter-attack.
Thibaut Courtois made a positive save to deny Robert Lewandowski and precisely 20 seconds later, Vinicius struck on the different finish.
Rodrygo lower the ball again to the ahead, who squeezed a shot dwelling regardless of Jules Kounde’s finest try at a goal-line clearance. Benzema was available to make certain, however Vinicius’s effort had already crossed the road.
The French ahead quickly was in a position to pounce although, ending lethally from the sting of the field in an ocean of area after Luka Modric simply skipped away from Sergi Roberto.
Benzema slotted dwelling his second from the penalty spot earlier than the hour mark, sending Marc-Andre ter Stegen the flawed method after Kessie clumsily fouled Vinicius.
Xavi threw on Ansu Fati to attempt to spark a comeback of their very own, however Barcelona couldn’t discover a method by way of.
It was one-way visitors as Ter Stegen denied Marco Asensio after which Benzema accomplished his hat-trick with a cool end after a positive dribble and go by Vinicius.
Madrid have lifted the trophy on 19 events, whereas their opponents Osasuna have by no means gained it, securing passage to their second ultimate after beating Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.
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