European Round-Up: Futballnews brings you all the results of the major games played across Europe on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
Karim Benzema bagged a hattrick in just seven minutes as Real Madrid outclassed visiting team Real Valladolid.
AC Milan also did their part by humbling Napoli while Lyon narrowly handed PSG their second home defeat since April 2021.
Karim Benzema, the talk of the weekend, scored three goals in seven minutes in the first half to see Real Madrid hammer Real Valladolid 6-0 to reduce Barcelona’s lead to 12 points.
The hattrick put Benzema second on the list of top scorers with 14 goals, just 3 goals away from Barca’s Robert Lewandowski.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 21st minute through Rodrygo, who scored from a smooth counter-attack that opened the floodgates.
Benzema, immediately took charge at Santiago Bernabeu, scoring a first-half hattrick for Real Madrid for the first time in his career.
The first goal came from a Vinicius Jr cross which Benzema scored with a flying header. The second goal was easy as the Frenchman scored from the edge of the box from Vinicius’s pass.
He completed his hattrick from Rodrygo’s cross. Though the ball was behind him, he however adjusted to score the third.
Rodrygo added another assist in the second half after he and Asensio did a one-two pass before Asensio scored the fifth.
Eden Hazard also gave his first assist since 2021 as he found Lucas Vazquez who scored the last goal sending Valladolid down the relegation zone.
Napoli Humbled
Rafael Leao scored a brace to help his team AC Milan beat Napoli 4-0 away from home sending them straight to third place in the Serie A table.
AC Milan are above 4th-placed Inter Milan with a point and four points behind Lazio while Napoli are 20 points clear at the top.
Milan went into the lead 17 minutes after Leao converted a through ball from Brahim Diaz and chipped it over Napoli goalie Alex Meret.
Eight minutes later, same Brahim Diaz scored the second after dummying Napoli defender Mario Rui and scoring with a deflection.
Just 14 minutes into the second half, Milan ended the match as star player Leao dribbled past three defenders and added a second goal.
Alexis Saelemaekers scored a fourth after 67 minutes with a solo effort as he dribbled passed 4 Napoli defenders before scoring.
In another match in the Serie A match, AS Roma beat Sampdoria at home to move into fourth place on the log table.
Lyon Shock PSG
PSG’s title chase was delayed a bit by city rivals Lyon after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home after Bradley Barcola’s goal.
The reigning Ligue 1 Champions’ only hope is winning the league cup as they have been knocked out of the French cup and Champions League.
Lyon are 9th on the Ligue 1 table and held down the Champions until the end of the match and they will head into the French Cup semi-final in full spirit.
PSG on the other hand will recover from this setback and prepare to face second-placed RC Lens in two weeks, a match that will be more like a title decider.
PSG currently have 66 points from 29 matches in the Ligue 1 after this loss while second-placed RC Lens have 60 points after their win away to Stede Rennais on Saturday.
