Benzema Nets 7-Minute Hat-Trick as Real Madrid Thrash Valladolid

Real Madrid players celebrate after the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on April 2, 2023. Isabel Infantes/Reuters

MADRID—Karim Benzema scored three goals in seven first-half minutes as Real Madrid thrashed Real Valladolid 6–0 on Sunday to cut Barcelona’s lead in LaLiga to 12 points.

The hat-trick moved Benzema up to 14 league goals this season and second on the list of top scorers—three behind Barca’s Robert Lewandowski.