Despite having already secured top spot in Group A, there was no let-up from Madrid, who equalled Liverpool’s competition-record victory from 2007-08 on a historic night at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium here on Tuesday.
Benzema got the ball rolling on 12 minutes, following in after Yoshimar Yotun had hooked Isco’s effort off the line, and from then on the hosts showed the Swedish outfit no mercy.
The France forward doubled his tally midway through the first period, heading Ronaldo’s cross past Johan Wiland. Ronaldo, however, was not to be denied and he killed the game as a contest six minutes before the break when he drilled in a low free-kick.
Two minutes after the restart a powerful run from Danilo led to Ronaldo’s second after the full-back’s shot was deflected into his path. The same players combined again as Ronaldo quickly completed his hat-trick, firing in from the Brazilian international’s lay-off.
His fourth, and 11th of the 2015-16 group stage, came on the hour-mark following lovely interplay between Benzema and Isco.
Mateo Kovacic got in on the act by emphatically scoring his first in Madrid colours 11 minutes later. Benzema completed Malmo’s misery, and his treble, with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining. (IANS)