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Real Madrid - Real Madrid snuffed out Auxerre's hopes of a Europa League place when Karim Benzema's hat-trick and a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the La Liga giants to a 4-0 win in Champions League Group G on Wednesday.
The French club needed a point at the Bernabeu to have any hope of pipping Ajax Amsterdam to third place, with Real already through to the last 16 as group winners and Serie A side AC Milan assured of second.
Portuguese Ronaldo was one of only three regular first-teamers in the suspended Jose Mourinho's starting 11 and it was his cross that set up Benzema to nod in the opening goal in the 12th minute at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo lashed home Real's second in the 49th after Marcelo's fine through ball sent him clear and Benzema netted in the 72nd with a low shot before producing a clinical finish to complete his treble just before the end.
"I am very pleased to have scored three goals. I am going to work hard to play like I have done today all the time," Benzema told Spanish television.
Nine-times champions Real are looking to end a poor run in Europe's elite club competition during which they have failed to make the quarter-finals the past six seasons despite investing heavily in players and coaching staff.
By winning the group they should avoid another heavyweight club when the draw is made on Dec. 17.
Real goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek had a mixed night, making two excellent saves to deny Jean-Pascal Mignot and Dennis Oliech in the first half and being forced off after getting a bang on the head in a collision with Roy Contout.
The former Liverpool keeper, who rarely gets a chance to replace first-choice Iker Casillas, was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch and Auxerre hardly troubled his replacement Antonio Adan.
Their efforts were in any case in vain as Ajax made sure of their place in the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Milan at the San Siro.
