Karim Benzema backed for Ballon d’Or by Carlo Ancelotti after hat-trick for Real Madrid against Barcelona

Madrid were 1-0 down going into the second leg at the Nou Camp but the home crowd were silenced just before half-time when Benzema cut the ball back for Vinicius Junior.

In the second half, Benzema put Real ahead on aggregate with a lovely finish from a Luka Modric pass and scored twice more to send Ancelotti’s side through to the Copa del Rey final.

Benzema won the Ballon d’Or for the first time last year after leading Real to the league and Champions League double.

“Benzema is back,” said Ancelotti after the game. “He’s back. Another Ballon D’Or for Karim? Why not?”

Real are 12 points behind Barca in La Liga, but will go into the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna as heavy favourites.

Ancelotti suggested his side were stronger in all areas on Wednesday night and the scoreline was a fair reflection.

“We played a great game, and it was a deserved result,” he said. “We did very well in the second half, in a very difficult game. When we had the opportunity, we created danger in transitions.”

“We delivered on everything, both offensively and defensively. Vinicius has complied, he scored and Benzema has also returned. Today, he has been as decisive as he always is.”

A Champions League quarter-final clash with Chelsea awaits next Wednesday as the two last winners of the European competition face-off.

Frank Lampard is expected to become the interim head-coach until the end of the season and BT Sport pundit Michael Owen has admitted he is surprised by the decision, should it be confirmed.

“I’m delighted for Frank,” said Owen. “But I must admit I didn’t see it coming at all. Crazy things are happening at the club at the moment.

“If they have not got someone there to take over permanently, I do get it. He knows the players, he knows the club and all of a sudden he’s going to be thrust into the limelight against Real Madrid, in the Champions League. It’s incredible.

“He must have been twiddling his thumbs at home for the last few weeks thinking, ‘where am I going to get into next, will it be the Championship, will I get another Premier League job?’ And all of a sudden he gets one of the hottest seats in the game and a great chance to further his career and remind people how good he can be.”