Karim Benzema took over Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final clash against Chelsea with two headed goals in three minutes on Wednesday before pouncing on a Blues mistake in the second half to secure his hat-trick.
The first two goals, which were scored in stunning fashion, came in the 21st and 24th minutes to put his side in control at Stamford Bridge in the first leg. He netted again in the 46th minute.
Benzema also scored a hat-trick in the last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain and has now carried his excellent form into the latest round.
Watch: Benzema takes over UCL quarter-final with stunning headers
Watch: Benzema gets his hat-trick
What has been said?
"They're magic nights, like the other day at the Bernabeu against Paris," Benzema told Spanish TV. "Today we came out to win, to show we're Real Madrid. Things worked out well for us as we played well, from the first minute to the last.
"They're very important goals. I'm happiest to have scored the third as I missed one in the first half and I was thinking about that chance because it's very important to score goals. Then I got another and I’m very happy."
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Benzema's UCL scoring form
The striker scored six Champions League goals in 75 minutes dating back to the second leg of the last 16 against PSG. He has 11 goals in the competition this season.
He's also the fourth player to score a hat-trick in back-to-back Champions League appearances after Cristiano Ronaldo (2017), Lionel Messi (2016) and Luiz Adriano (2014).
The Real Madrid striker is the first-ever player to score a European treble against Chelsea in any competition.
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