Benzema "hits the switch" as Madrid prepares for their match against Chelsea.

Karim Benzema's hat-trick against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey served a dual purpose, knocking Real Madrid's bitter rivals out of the Spanish Cup at Camp Nou. Madrid, aiming to win the trophy for the sixth time in 10 seasons, have burst into life in recent matches, scoring 12 goals in their last three games, including the 4-0 romp against Barcelona. Coach Carlo Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Barcelona to keep the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric fresh to face Chelsea. He likened his team to a boiler, hitting the right temperature at the most important moment of the season, and when the team is close to a title, the temperature of the boiler goes up. This is evident as the season reaches its business end, with Los Blancos welcome Chelsea on Wednesday to the Santiago Bernabeu in a first leg Champions League quarter-final clash.

The 35-year-old Frenchman Benzema's temperature has fluctuated this season, from moments of high quality to weeks sidelined with injury problems. He failed to score a goal in the Champions League group stages but hit three against Liverpool in the last 16 clash. Despite Thomas Tuchel's side battling back at the Bernabeu, the hosts forced the game to extra-time and Benzema headed home decisively in the 96th minute. Benzema and Madrid marched on, as they often do, and he was eventually defeated in the final in Paris. Ancelotti, the coach of Madrid, withdrew Benzema before the hour mark with his side 2-1 up against Villarreal, resting the striker for Chelsea's visit. Eventually Madrid fell to defeat, with their talisman only able to watch on from the sidelines.