Real Madrid couldn’t have asked for a better start to the new year, even in the absence of Kylian Mbappé.
Gonzalo García, who had never scored in La Liga before, sent the ball into the net three times in succession. With his first career hat-trick, Real Madrid dismantled Real Betis in a goal-filled showcase.
At Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, Xabi Alonso’s side dominated with a 5–1 victory. Their other two goals came from defenders Raúl Asensio and Fran García.
In recent years, Real Madrid have often struggled against Betis. Their last meeting in March ended in defeat, and in the previous five encounters, Madrid had won just once, with three draws.
Before this match, Real Madrid faced a major setback when their main attacking option, Mbappé, was sidelined due to injury. But García’s outstanding performance has likely eased those concerns.
The emphatic win also helped Real Madrid close the gap on the league leaders. After 19 matches, they sit second with 45 points from 14 wins and three draws, four points behind Barcelona.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Madrid broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Vinícius Júnior was fouled while trying to cut into the box from the left, earning a free-kick. Rodrigo delivered a precise cross to the far post, where García headed it home to give Madrid the lead.
This was the first La Liga goal for the young Spanish forward.
In the first half, Madrid held nearly 60% possession and attempted nine shots, but only this one found the target.
Five minutes into the second half, García doubled the lead with an exquisite finish. Receiving Federico Valverde’s cross on his chest at the edge of the box, the 21-year-old rifled a powerful right-foot shot past the post.
In the 56th minute, Asensio extended Madrid’s lead. Rising to meet Rodrigo’s corner, the defender headed Madrid’s third goal of the match.
After conceding three goals, Betis responded with some promising attacks. Giovani Lo Celso’s free-kick over the box went just wide of the far post, and Aitor Ruibal’s strike was brilliantly saved by Thibaut Courtois.
However, Courtois couldn’t keep the net intact in the 66th minute. Ruibal’s through ball allowed Cuco Hernández to enter the box and take a shot, but he lost his balance. Retaining possession, Hernández then slotted a powerful finish past Courtois at the near post, giving Colombia’s forward his goal.
Despite that strike, Betis could not create any further drama. In the 82nd minute, García completed his hat-trick, effectively sealing the result. Arda Gül’s pass from the left flank into the six-yard box found García, who directed it to the far post with a side-foot finish.
In the 88th minute, Fran García scored Madrid’s fifth goal immediately after coming on as a substitute. Receiving Valverde’s cross at the edge of the six-yard box, the Spanish left-back volleyed the ball into the net.
Betis, suffering their fourth defeat of the season, remain sixth in the table with 28 points from 18 matches.
