Real Madrid defeated Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, with Karim Benzema scoring a back-to-back hat-trick.
Real Madrid took a 2-0 lead thanks to two stunning headers from the 34-year-old forward within three minutes, before Kai Havertz reduced the deficit with a header near the end of the first half.
Benzema completed his hat-trick early in the second half, capitalizing on a mistake by Edouard Mendy to make the score 3-1 at London’s Stamford Bridge stadium.
In Real Madrid’s 3-1 comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 round, Benzema scored his first hat-trick.
Real Madrid now has a significant lead heading into the second leg, which takes place on April 12 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Villarreal defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in their quarterfinal first leg match at home, thanks to Arnaut Danjuma’s goal.
On April 12, Villarreal will play Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.