Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted after their 6-0 rout of Real Valladolid.

Karim Benzema dominated the scoresheet with a hat-trick.

Ancelotti said, "Today marks the beginning of the closing stretch of the season, I said as much to the players. Last season, we were really struggling heading into this period but there's a very different feeling around the place this time, particularly given that clinical edge we almost always have up top has returned, having gone missing in recent games. The forwards were clinical and thanks to that, it was a fairly straightforward game.

"The four guys up top did everything that was asked of them with the ball in every sense, but there is room for improvement without the ball. We work hard to generate mobility and breaks in the opposition defence. Karim hit three goals in seven minutes and showed he's in great shape. The work he's put in during the international break has really helped him.

"We started out with a 4-4-2, but then I switched Rodrygo's position and that changed the dynamic of the game, freeing Asensio up a bit. Valladolid played with five across the middle in the first half and it was best to put Rodrygo out wide because they were struggling to press out wide and Asensio had more freedom. We have to be aware that we won't always find the right balance if we play with four forwards."