Hazard returns as Benzema’s hat-trick fires Real Madrid to victory over Valladolid

Eden Hazard created an assist as Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 6-0 drubbing of Real Valladolid 

Madrid needed a proper reaction following a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona just before the international break. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s men were also 15 points behind their arch-rivals before the start, but they have clawed it back to 12 points with the win. 

Real Madrid showed their intent right from the blast of the whistle, dominating possession in the early stages. 

Valladolid had no answers to Los Blancos’ wave of attack, with their defence breached just after 22 minutes. 

Madrid took the lead through Rodrygo, who finished superbly after receiving a pass from Marco Asensio. 

Rodrygo’s goal opened the floodgates as Benzema doubled Madrid’s lead seven minutes later with a brilliant header from Vinicius Jnr’s cross. 

Two became three moments later as Benzema scored his second of the game with a superb strike from outside the box. 

The former France international then completed his hat-trick in the 36th minute to ensure Madrid went into the break with a four-goal lead. 

The second half resumed the same way the first ended, with Madrid on the attack. The European champions continued to pile pressure on Valladolid’s defence and had the ball in the back of the net for the fifth time. 

However, Rodrygo’s effort was ruled out for a foul in the build-up play. With the game secured, Ancelotti made a couple of changes, bringing on Hazard for Benzema. 

It was Hazard’s first league appearance for Real Madrid since September 2022. 

The change did work as Rodrygo set up Asensio for Los Blancos’ fifth before Hazard provided the assist for Lucas Vasquez for a comprehensive 6-0 win.