Topics: La Liga, Real Madrid, Real Valladolid, Karim Benzema
The French striker inspired Real Madrid to an emphatic 6-0 win against Valladolid on Sunday.

Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick in seven minutes as Real Madrid put Real Valladolid to the sword on Sunday. The French striker was at his best once more as Carlo Ancelotti's side moved to 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona with the afternoon's result.

It was practically one-way traffic from the get-go, with Rodrygo slotting the ball into the bottom corner for the game's opening goal. Karim Benzema then got his first by heading home Vinicius Jr's excellent cross in the 29th minute. The Frenchman then curled in his second from another Vinicius pass, before scoring a close-range overhead kick to end the half with a hat-trick. Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez added the icing on the cake by scoring two second-half goals, with Eden Hazard coming on from the bench to grab an assist.

As per the history books, Benzene's ended the afternoon with the fastest Madrid hat-trick in a La Liga game since Fernando Hierro's three goals in six minutes in a 7-0 win over Espanyol in April 1992. The player's contribution took his goal tally for the season to 14, three behind Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski.