Gonzalo Garcia netted an impressive hat-trick—his first La Liga goals—assisting Real Madrid in dominating Real Betis at the Bernabeu stadium.
The 21-year-old striker, filling in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, netted the first goal with a header after 20 minutes and increased the advantage with an excellent volley at the start of the second half.
Raul Asencio scored with a header from a corner to make it 3-0, but Betis responded by getting a goal back when Cucho Hernandez bypassed Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
However, after Betis struck the post and created concerns for the home team, Garcia finished off his impressive performance with a beautiful backheel from a short distance.
Fran Garcia scored Madrid’s fifth in stoppage time, securing a victory that cut the difference between second-placed Madrid and first-placed Barcelona to four points, while Betis remained in sixth position.
Mbappe missed the home team’s opening match of 2026 due to a twisted knee, but Gonzalo Garcia’s performance ensured that Xabi Alonso’s squad didn’t feel the absence of the prolific French forward significantly.
Gonzalo Garcia, who shared the top scoring spot with four goals at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, was unmarked at the back post to nod back past Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles for his inaugural goal in La Liga.
However, his second, showing excellent chest control before volleying past Valles into the bottom corner, calmed the nerves of the home supporters after Madrid had appeared slow before the break.
Asencio was also left unmarked at a set piece to head in for his first senior goal as the home side threatened to embarrass Betis, managed by former Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini.
However, Betis dug deep, and after Lo Celso’s free kick hit a post, Hernandez steadied himself for a cool finish from a tight angle after going around Courtois.
Riquelme was unlucky to see his curling shot rebound off a post, but with Madrid’s fans becoming restless, Gonzalo Garcia settled the result with a sublime flick from Arda Guler’s low cross from the left.
Substitute Fran Garcia, who had replaced Gonzalo late on, converted Federico Valverde’s cross from close range deep into stoppage time.
Madrid will not play in next weekend’s round of La Liga matches because of their Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday, 8 January.
