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Karim Benzema becomes Real Madrid's joint-second highest scorer as La Liga champions thrash Levante

Real Madrid beat Levante 6-0 on Thursday night, with Vinicius Junior scoring three and Karim Benzema equalling Raul's goal tally; Levante relegated from La Liga after heavy defeat at the Bernabeu; Real Sociedad see off Cadiz while Villarreal hammer Rayo Vallecano

Madrid, Spain; 08.01.2022.- Real Madrid vs Valencia Football Soccer to La Liga Spain match 20 2021-2022 held at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. Real Madrid player Real Madrid player Karim Benzema score goal. Photo by: Juan Carlos Rojas/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image: Karim Benzema now has 323 goals for Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick and Karim Benzema equalled Raul's goal-scoring record as La Liga champions Real Madrid thrashed bottom side Levante 6-0.

Vinicius did not get involved in the scoring until it was already 3-0 - Ferland Mendy had fired Madrid in front after 13 minutes having been played in by Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema quickly doubled the lead from a Vinicius cross.

The striker's goal saw him move level with Raul on 323 goals for Real, making them the joint-second highest scorers in the club's history behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Vinicius Junior
Image: Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick to help relegate Levante

Rodrygo put the game beyond doubt as early as the 34th minute from another Modric pass, and the Croatian got his third assist when he set up Vinicius to score from a tight angle on the stroke of half-time.

The Brazilian tapped in another in the 68th minute and completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time, with Modric again the creator.

The heavy defeat at the Bernabeu confirmed Levante's relegation from La Liga.

Elsewhere in Spain's top flight, Real Sociedad stayed sixth with a 3-0 win over Cadiz.

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Alexander Sorloth got the opener from a tight angle in the 19th minute and Adnan Januzaj doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Tomas Alarcon fouled David Silva early in the second half.

Sociedad got another penalty in stoppage time after Victor Chust fouled Portu, who got up to convert from the spot himself.

The result keeps Sociedad three points clear of Villarreal, who won 5-1 at Rayo Vallecano.

Although Sergi Guardiola cancelled out Alfonso Pedraza's early header, Juan Foyth, Paco Alcacer and Pau Torres had Villarreal in total control by the break, and Pedraza added a fifth late on.

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