Real Madrid Thrash Barcelona in Copa del Rey Semifinal
Madrid's Benzema Scores Masterful Hat-Trick
Real Madrid delivered a humiliating blow to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinal on Thursday, thrashing their arch-rivals 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. The victory sends Madrid into the final, while Barcelona's trophy hopes lie in ruins.
Benzema's Brilliance
The star of the show was Karim Benzema, who scored a magnificent hat-trick to lead Madrid to victory. The Frenchman opened the scoring with a clinical finish in the 12th minute, and doubled his tally just before halftime with a stunning long-range strike.
After the break, Benzema completed his hat-trick with a close-range header, putting the game beyond Barcelona's reach. Rodrygo added a fourth goal for Madrid in the 90th minute to seal the emphatic win.
Barcelona's Nightmare
Barcelona, on the other hand, endured a disastrous night. The Blaugrana were outplayed and outclassed from the start, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen making several crucial saves to prevent an even heavier defeat.
The loss leaves Barcelona with only the La Liga title to fight for this season. They sit eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid, making it an uphill battle to retain their domestic crown.
Madrid's Momentum
For Real Madrid, the victory is a major boost to their morale. They have now won their last seven matches in all competitions and are showing signs of returning to their best form.
The Copa del Rey final will be held on May 6th, and Madrid will face either Valencia or Athletic Bilbao for a chance to lift the trophy. With Benzema in such impressive form, Madrid will be confident of ending the season on a high note.
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