Benzema nets hat-trick gives Real Madrid a winning return to Bernabeu
Benzema scored either side of a Franco Cervi strike after Santi Mina had given the visitors the lead on four minutes. Vinicius Junior added a third for Real before teenager Eduardo Camavinga scored six minutes into his debut. Benzema sealed his hat-trick with an 87th-minute goal as Carlo Ancelotti's side moved top of La Liga.
Despite ongoing construction work, 30,000 supporters were welcomed back to the Bernabeu as Los Blanco played their first match there since beating Barcelona in El Clasico on 1 March 2020. The victory moves Real to the top of the table on goals scored, level on points with Valencia and Atletico Madrid.
A mix-up at the back involving Nacho Fernandez and Eder Militao saw Iago Aspas win the ball inside the opposition penalty area. Santi Mina presented the chance to fire low past Thibaut Courtois. Karim Benzema bagged an equaliser after some good work by Fede Valverde in the build-up before the visitors reclaimed the lead, with Franco Cervi converting his own rebound off the post.
Benzema, who is currently in the best form of his career, equalised for a second time just one minute into the second half, heading home from an excellent Gutierrez delivery into the box. Real Madrid took the lead for the first time in the match after 55 minutes when Vinicius Junior was released on goal, with the Brazilian showing good composure to slot home.
Camavinga was introduced with 20 minutes remaining for his Real Madrid debut, and the teenager marked the occasion by finding the back of the net on the rebound from a Luka Modric shot. Benzema added the finishing touches to the scoreline with the points already in the bag by completing his hat trick with an emphatic strike from the penalty spot.
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