Real Madrid 4-2 Almeria: Karim Benzema lays down top scorer gauntlet for Robert Lewandowski

Karim Benzema scored a 41-minute hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Almeria to close-in on Robert Lewandowski as the competition’s top scorer.

There is nothing between the two forwards in the battle to finish with the most league goals. 

The team title might have gone but Benzema clearly wants the individual honour and was a goal behind the Barcelona striker before he prepared to face Betis in the late kick-off.

It was a comfortable win for Madrid with Benzema well supported by the brilliant Brazilians Vinicius and Rodrygo – the latter weighing in with assist of the season in the first half.

Madrid had the first chance of the game with Benzema unable to force Vinicius’ cross over the line from close range after just two minutes. 

Karim Benzema scored his third hat-trick in April in a profitable outing for Real Madrid 

The striker is the highest Real Madrid scorer of all time – save for one Cristiano Ronaldo

His first came within the opening five minutes on a sunny late afternoon in the Spanish capital

And just two minutes later there was an identical move and this time the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Vincius skipped around Houboulang Mendes and found Benzema unmarked to score his 15th league goal of the season and his 350th for Real Madrid.

It was ‘tee-up Benzema’ time in the first 15 minutes and from another Vinicius pass the Frenchman missed his chance to double the lead.

His personal battle with Lewandowski seemed very much on the agenda.

Madrid were at full-strength save Luka Modric who is out with a muscle problem just a week from the Spanish Cup final and 10 days from the first leg against Manchester City.

Benzema doubled the lead for Real Madrid on 18 minutes but the assist was so good it was to Rodrygo that most of the credit went. 

His back-heeled flick on the byline kept the ball on the pitch and sent Almeria’s wrong-footed Samu Costa flying off it. 

He then rolled it to Benzema who scored. Now Benzema was on 16 goals just two behind Lewandowski.

Lucas Robertone got onto the scoresheet as the visitors looked to mount a fightback 

The Frenchma’s third came from the spot after a foul on Lucas Vazquez just before the break

Rodrygo found the back of Almeria’s net for the fourth goal at the very start of the second half

Vinicius Junior assisted Benzema’s first and pulled off a classy home performance in Madrid

It also took his tally in all competitions to 351 – 99 behind Cristiano Ronaldo, but in front of everyone else who has ever worn the shirt.

Madrid were comfortable but Vinicius was out to complicate things. 

He was held by Houboulang Mendes and the Almeria player should have been booked.

 Referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez kept his cards in his pocket and Vinicius sought him out to protest. 

He was then booked and when he walked away sarcastically clapping the referee he could easily have seen a second yellow and been sent off. 

As it was he had earned his second suspension of the season and will not play in midweek against Real Sociedad. 

He has ten yellows this season, Benzema has only been shown nine in his 14 seasons at the club.

Benzema had his first half hat-trick just before the break when Largie Ramazani chopped down Lucas Vazquez and the French forward scored from the spot.

Now he was on 17 for the season – just one behind Lewandowski.

There was no clean sheet for Madrid though as Ramazani went some way to make up for his error by crossing from the left for Lazaro Vinicius to score with the last kick of the half.

Madrid extended their lead two minutes after the break when Almeria stepped off Rodrgyo on the edge of the area allowing him to smash his shot into the top corner past Fernando.

Toni Kroos then gifted possession to Almeria in his own penalty area and Lucas Robertone headed in the visitors’ second to make it 4-2. 

It looked as if Madrid would have another penalty but it was ruled out after some deliberation

Madrid pulled off a quick bounce back after falling to the same scoreline against Girona

Eduardo Camavinga had his goal ruled out for offside and Benzema struck the post by a whisker as Los Blancos looked to add to their tally minutes before time

The former French international has firmly laid down the gauntlet to Robert Lewandowski 

They still never looked like coming back into it and Carlo Ancelotti took mercy on them by taking Rodrygo off with 20 minutes left.

Benzema thought he had been awarded a penalty and the chance to score his fourth but the decision was corrected by VAR and Benzema was adjudged to have fouled Rodrigo Ely before he was brought down.

Benzema and substitute Marco Asensio both hit a post and Eduardo Camavinga scored only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. 

Four goals were enough for Madrid and three more than enough from Benzema to lay the top-scorer gauntlet down to Lewandowski.