Real Madrid booked a Copa del Rey final date with Osasuna after Karim Benzema’s masterclass led them to a devastating comeback past Barcelona in El Clasico.
Carlo Ancelotti had refused to go too aggressive in his selection when chasing the tie at the Camp Nou, opting for the experience of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in midfield, in a decision which initially looked to be backfiring.
Madrid’s stunning 15-minute salvo across the end of the first half and start of the second came in stark contrast to their nervy display for a good 40 minutes, in which they had the superb David Alaba to thank for mopping up all-too regular crosses into their box.
The increasingly stale, scrappy half burst into life as soon as the board went up for three minutes of stoppage time, Thibaut Courtois expertly flinging himself to deny Robert Lewandowski from close range before Real broke upfield.
Rodrygo turned the ball around Marcos Alonso to release Vinicius Jr, who gobbled up 30 yards of Barcelona territory in seconds before slipping it wide to Benzema.
The return pass saw the Brazilian’s shot spilled by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, flapped at by Jules Kounde and eventually made sure on the line by Benzema - even if officially awarded to Vinicius.
The goal flipped the game completely in Real’s favour, who came out in the second half looking every bit as confident as Barcelona did uncomfortable.
The result was a second goal and, for the first time in the tie, a Madrid aggregate lead on 50 minutes as Modric fed Benzema for an accurate side-footed finish low into the far corner.
And there's the hat trick!! ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 5, 2023
Karim Benzema bags his third of the night and Real Madrid's fourth as they run riot over Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou! 👀 pic.twitter.com/dWykmsMRHR
Barcelona’s control had evaporated and Franck Kessie foolishly lunged in on Vinicius to concede a penalty, which Benzema duly slotted home for a 3-0 lead on the night before the hour mark.
Benzema then flashed a chance for his third wide after Jules Kounde’s slip but was not to be denied for long, getting in behind to calmly claim his second hat-trick in as many games with 10 minutes left to overtake Raul in the all-time Clasico goal leaderboard.
The scenes were classic Real Madrid, rousing themselves from the mire to deliver an impeccably ruthless and clinical flash of brilliance to turn the tide in a knockout contest.
It was fitting that it came in the Camp Nou’s final Clasico before the stadium is largely torn down and rebuilt into a new, modern venue. For all it and, to a wider extent Barcelona as a club, are seeking to change - Los Blancos are at their best when they keep staying the same.
