Benzema nets hat trick in Madrid win, Vinícius takes knock

By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Karim Benzema has scored a first-half hat trick to lead Real Madrid to a 4-2 win over Almeria in a Spanish league game that included an injury scare for forward Vinícius Júnior. Whether Madrid’s season ends in success or failure will hinge on next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and its Champions League semifinal with Manchester City. Luka Modric is already doubtful for those games. So the last thing coach Carlo Ancelotti needed was to see his best winger ask to be substituted several minutes after banging with a defender. But afterwards Ancelotti said that Vinícius only had “a knock.” Barcelona maintained its 11-point lead over Madrid after beating 10-man Real Betis 4-0.