Real Madrid defeated league leaders Barcelona 4-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Copa del Rey final in spectacular fashion thanks to a hat-trick from Karim Benzema.
After winning the first leg of the semi-final by a score of 1-0 in Madrid last month, Barca, which is attempting to win the fourth consecutive Clasico this season, appeared to be headed for the championship game.
Benzema became the first Real player to score a hat-trick in a Clasico at the Nou Camp since Ferenc Puskas in 1963, but after dominating the first half of the second leg, they collapsed to lose 4-1 on aggregate.
Although a quick counterattack by Vinicius Jr. gave Real the lead in first-half stoppage time, Benzema’s corner kick from five minutes into the second half, after a feed from Luka Modric, changed the course of the semi-final.
As Vinicius was fouled in the box eight minutes later, Benzema slammed the penalty past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona attempted to retaliate as jeers reverberated around Nou Camp, but Real Madrid were more likely to increase their lead given Benzema’s relentless play.
He was once more set up by Vinicius in the 80th minute to complete his second hat-trick in as many days, having had scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid.
Real, who defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on aggregate on Tuesday, will feel confident about their prospects of lifting the trophy for the 20th time when they play Osasuna in the championship game.
“It was a complete match. If you don’t make it complete, you can’t win 0-4 here,” Ancelotti said.
“In the first half we had difficulties but the first goal changes the dynamics of the whole match.
“It’s a game in which personality and experience is a very important aspect. We mixed the energy of Rodrygo, Valverde and Camavinga with the experience of Vini, Modric, Kroos. They played a spectacular game.”
That was a magnificent retaliation by Ancelotti’s team as Real defeated Barcelona by at least a four-goal margin for the first time since 1995 after suffering at the hands of Barcelona this season.
Real, which recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to their fierce rival, is currently a distant second behind Barca in La Liga. Even though they lost the championship, they still reclaimed bragging rights in style.
On Wednesday, there was no indication of what was to come as Barcelona appeared ready to end the match as Thibaut Courtois again denied the visitors.
The stalemate was broken by a single Courtois save that stopped Robert Lewandowski.
Real advanced quickly, as Vinicius and Benzema exchanged passes before Vinicius’ attempt narrowly missed the target despite Ronald Araujo’s best efforts to block it.
Five minutes after the half, Benzema received a pass from Modric that he rolled to him for a superb finish into the corner. A few minutes later, Vinicius was fouled, and Benzema took revenge, leaving Xavi’s Barcelona in ruins.
Players from both sides engaged in fights as tempers erupted, but Benzema emerged victorious to cap off a memorable evening for Real and one that Barca will want to forget.
“Congratulations to Real Madrid, who had a great second half,” Barca coach Xavi, who was booked in the first half, said. “If you show Madrid mercy, they don’t show you mercy.
“It will be hard to sleep, as I am from Barcelona and many of the squad are. But tomorrow, we think about Girona.”
