MY ACCOUNT
Karim Benzema moved level with Raul as Real Madrid’s second-highest all-time top goalscorer and Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick as the LaLiga champions relegated Levante with a 6-0 hammering.
Ferland Mendy got Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who were crowned champions a fortnight ago, on their way early on, before Benzema joined Madrid icon Raul on 323 goals soon after.
Rodrygo and Vinicius added further goals before the interval, with the latter completing his treble in the second half at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.
While the rout restored Madrid’s 12-point advantage over Barcelona at the summit, it condemned Levante to the drop with two games to play.
Any hopes Levante had of causing an upset were dispelled in the 13th minute when Mendy powered into the penalty area and slotted past Daniel Cardenas.
Federico Valverde then steered a volley against the post, before Benzema doubled his side’s advantage with a close-range header from Vinicius’ cross after 19 minutes.
Rodrygo slid home Luka Modric’s cross to make it three in the 34th minute, while Cardenas twice pushed Valverde drives onto the crossbar as Madrid dominated.
They made it four in the 45th minute, when Vinicius collected Modric’s pass and curled past Cardenas from a tight angle.
Cardenas pawed away Modric’s whipped effort and Vinicius saw an effort ruled out for offside after the interval.
The Brazil international was not to be denied in the 68th minute, though, tapping into an empty net after Benzema had rounded Cardenas.
He had his hat-trick seven minutes from full-time courtesy of a cool finish from 10 yards out after breaking through Levante’s dispirited backline.
What does it mean? No let-up from rampant Madrid
Given the title was already sewn up weeks ago and there is a Champions League final against Liverpool looming in a little over a fortnight, Ancelotti would have been forgiven for resting some of his star players.
The Italian was having none of it, though. Benzema, Vinicius and Modric all started and all three shone throughout as Los Blancos returned to winning ways in style after Sunday’s El Derbi defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Masterful Modric
It was another supreme display from Modric, who delivered three assists in a single game for Madrid for the first time in what was his 434th match for the club.
The last Madrid player to provide as many assists in a single LaLiga game was James Rodriguez against Rayo Vallecano in 2015.
Unlucky Valverde
Valverde has still yet to score in LaLiga this season and he will be cursing his luck that he did not find the back of the net here.
The Uruguay international struck the woodwork a remarkable three times in the first half, twice courtesy of fine saves from Cardenas.
What’s next?
Both sides are in action again on Sunday, with Los Blancos away to Cadiz and Levante at home to Alaves.
