Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema back in ‘optimal condition’ – Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti showered praise on Karim Benzema after the talisman striker scored a hat-trick against arch-nemesis Barcelona in the team’s 4-0 win in the second leg of the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

This convincing win in the second leg overshadowed Blaugrana’s first leg 1-0 win. Real Madrid will face Osasuna on May 6 in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr scored in the stoppage time in the first half. Subsequently, Benzema scored thrice within 30 minutes to put his team in front.

“The work [Benzema] did during the international break helped a lot,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference on Wednesday. “He’s found his optimal condition again, and with the quality he has, the physical condition that supports that quality makes the difference.”

The Italian manager backed Benzema to retain his Ballon d’Or award this year. Ancelotti added the Frenchman makes a difference when he is fit.

“Why not?” Ancelotti said when asked if Benzema, aged 35, stood a chance of retaining the award. “He’s still one of the best players — not forwards, but players — in the world right now, without doubt. When he’s healthy, he makes the difference.”

In fact, Los Blancos had lost their last three matches against Barcelona and thus it was a much-needed win.

“The boiler has reached the right temperature again,” Ancelotti said when asked if he was proud of the performance. “This is the most important moment of the season and when we’re at the right temperature, we’re fine.

“The team delivered in every sense: defensively, offensively, being clinical up front. It was the perfect game.”

There were some hot moments in the game and Vinicius was involved in a tussle with the home team’s players. Ancelotti decided to sub off the Brazilian in the 85th minute.

“In a game like that, it can happen,” Ancelotti said. “I took him off because it didn’t make sense to have him on the pitch. He had a yellow card and with another yellow card he’d miss the final. We didn’t want to take risks.

“Maybe opposition players look for [Vinicius],” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. “They say things, it happens on the pitch, they’re looking for a red card. We need the best Vini, like we got today.”

Real Madrid will next take on Villarreal on Saturday night in La Liga.