Karim Benzema Real Madrid 2022-23Getty Images

Karim Benzema blows Barcelona away! Winners and losers as wily Carlo Ancelotti oversees Copa del Rey masterclass

Real Madrid love these nights. The Spanish giants were behind on aggregate to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final, facing Europe's best defensive side in a stadium where they had only conceded twice domestically all season.

Yet Carlo Ancelotti's side put four past their arch-rivals without really breaking a sweat. It was another entry for Ancelotti's fine collection of comebacks, with Madrid running out 4-1 aggregate winners to book a spot in the Copa del Rey final.

It took a blustery 60 seconds for the tie to be levelled — and 15 minutes for it to be turned on its head.

Article continues below

At the end of the first half, Robert Lewandowski was denied at one end by Thibaut Courtois and Madrid broke swiftly. The sweeping move was started and finished by Vinicius Jr, with a lovely Karim Benzema cut-back in between to lock the tie at 1-1 right before half-time.

Then came the Ancelotti magic. Benzema was at the centre of it all, bagging a hat-trick for a second game in a row and battering a stunned Barcelona defence.

He got Madrid going after the break, sweeping the ball into the far corner after a dart and pass from Luka Modric. He was ruthless thereafter, scoring from the spot for Madrid's third after Franck Kessie tripped Vinicius in the box, and adding the fourth with a delightful dink from an incisive Vinicius run.

There is indeed a trophy up for grabs here, and Madrid will fancy themselves in the final against Osasuna. But perhaps more importantly, they seem to be recapturing their magic ahead of a massive Champions League meeting with Chelsea next week.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Camp Nou...