Despite the big win, champions Madrid are second in Spain, 12 points behind league leaders FC Barcelonawho beat Elche on Saturday, each with 11 games remaining in the season.
Carlo AncelottiThe team warmed up to their arch-rivals in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-finals by edging out the hapless visitors in 16th and one point above the drop zone.
Rodrigo Goes opened the scoring before Benzema’s hat-trick, which also included a superb acrobatic effort, saw Marco Asensio add a fifth in the second half and Lucas Vazquez add another late on.
Another Rodrigo goal was disallowed for handball. Vinicius Jr.Who set up two of Benzema’s strikes as Madrid were stunned in the spring sunshine at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Rodrigo headed home the opener on 22 minutes after Asensio tipped over to open the floodgates.
Vinicius’s cross allowed Benzema to score a second after 29 minutes, and four minutes later, the Brazilian fed his French strike partner again and headed in from the edge of the box.
Benzema completed his hat-trick after 36 minutes when Rodrigo crossed and he fired an impressive overhead effort from inside the six-yard box for his 14th goal of the season in La Liga.
The 35-year-old overtook Getafe’s Enes Unal to become the division’s second top goalscorer, behind Barcelona Robert Lewandowski On the 17th.
Madrid slowed down in the second half with the Belgian winger Eden Hazard Making his first league appearance since September as a substitute for Benzema.
After Rodrigo set up Asensio to blast from inside the area, Hazard set up Lucas Vazquez to score in stoppage time.
Vinicius was also rested ahead of the Clasico clash midweek as Madrid sharpen their teeth.
Los Blancos look far more dangerous now, after failing to trouble Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in a 1-0 defeat earlier in March.
(With inputs from AFP)