Chelsea beware - Karim Benzema is back to his Ballon d'Or-winning best!

Real Madrid were being battered by Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday. And then Karim Benzema did a typical Benzema thing.

The French forward was sent through on goal as Real charged down the pitch on the counterattack. But instead of shooting, Benzema cut the ball back, taking three Barca defenders out of the game with one deft flick. Vinicius Jr applied the easy finish, giving Madrid a 1-0 lead heading into half-time.

After the break, it was Benzema's turn to score. And he did so three times, in fact, as if to drive home a point: he is still the king of these nights. Indeed, in knockout football, Benzema comes alive.

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His three strikes at Camp Nou marked Benzema's second-straight hat-trick, and added to a fine collection of signature cup showings.

It was a return to the Ballon d'Or-winning form that has occasionally disappeared for Benzema this season, a reminder of the player that dragged Real Madrid to Champions League glory in 2022.

A week on from his star turn against Barcelona, Chelsea could be his next victim. Benzema is fit and firing and primed for this type of contest.

And for a struggling Chelsea side under the tutelage of a new manager who are shaky at the back, this version of Benzema spells trouble.