Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed arch-rivals and league leaders Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Copa del Rey final in stunning fashion on Wednesday.

Barca, bidding for a fourth successive Clasico victory this season, looked set for the final having edged a 1-0 win in the first leg of the semi-final in Madrid on March 3.

But after dominating the early stages of the second leg they fell apart in unlikely fashion to lose 4-1 on aggregate with Benzema becoming the first Real player to score a hat-trick in a Clasico at the Nou Camp since Ferenc Puskas in 1963.

Vinicius gave Real the lead in first-half stoppage time following a lightning counter-attack and the semi-final was turned on its head when Benzema stroked a shot into the corner five minutes into the second half from a Luka Modric pass.

Eight minutes later Vinicius was fouled in the area and Benzema thumped his penalty past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

With jeers echoing around the Nou Camp, Barcelona tried to respond but it was Real Madrid who looked the more likely to add to their tally with Benzema unstoppable.

In the 80th minute he was again set up by Vinicius to complete his second hat-trick in a matter of days having also hit a treble in the 6-0 destruction of Real Valladolid.

"It was a complete match. If you don't make it complete, you can't win 0-4 here," Real Madrid manager Ancelotti said.

"Congratulations to Real Madrid, who had a great second half," Barca coach Xavi said. "If you show Madrid mercy, they don't show you mercy."

In the Premier League, Marcus Rashford scored the only goal with a brilliant half-volley as Manchester United beat Brentford 1-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday to climb back into the top four.

"We are in that period of the season where every game is important and every game counts, so we are pleased to win," Rashford said.

"The important thing is always to win the next game – everyone is clear that we are not going to play our best every week, but there is never a time to drop our standards and we have to keep trying to push each other every week," he added.

Newcastle United's Callum Wilson and Joelinton both scored twice in a 5-1 rout of woeful West Ham United on Wednesday

A damp night in east London was turned into a Tyneside party as Eddie Howe's rampant side punished an error-riddled West Ham who were the architects of their own downfall.

Wilson and Joelinton both scored inside the opening 13 minutes as third-placed Newcastle sent out a statement in their quest to rejoin the European elite after a 20-year absence.

Wilson has now scored 12 goals in 13 appearances against West Ham and after a lean spell this season which cost him his England place he suddenly looks back to his best.

"Sometimes you have teams you enjoy playing against. You have a feeling you're going to score," Wilson said.

"Before the game everyone is talking 'West Ham, you're going to score today'. I've been on the bench in the last few weeks. I wanted to make a statement and show everyone I'm still here."

Newcastle are third with 53 points from 28 games, the same as fourth-placed Manchester United but crucially three points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

(With input from Reuters)