Gonzalo Garcia stole the show with a stunning hat-trick as Real Madrid demolished Real Betis 5-1 on Sunday, keeping the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Garcia, the young Spanish striker stepping in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, got things rolling after just 20 minutes and then fired home a brilliant second goal to put Madrid firmly in control in the early stages of the second half.
The lead kept growing as Raul Asencio added a third for Xabi Alonso’s side, before Cucho Hernandez managed to pull one back for Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis. But it was Garcia’s night to shine. The Madrid youth academy graduate completed his hat-trick with a clever flick after 82 minutes, sending fans at the Santiago Bernabeu wild. Fran Garcia capped off the victory with a late fifth goal.
With this win, Madrid remain second in the table and trimmed Barcelona’s lead back to four points, after the champions beat Espanyol 2-0 in the Catalan derby on Saturday. The result also gave coach Xabi Alonso some breathing room, following reports he might be facing the sack after a rocky spell.
Alonso had to reshuffle his attack with top scorer Mbappe out due to a knee injury, handing 21-year-old Garcia another chance in the starting lineup—just like he did during the Club World Cup last summer. Garcia has had limited chances this season, but made the most of this one.
“These three goals mean a lot to me—my first hat-trick at the Bernabeu, my first goals this season,” Garcia told reporters. He admitted competition for minutes is fierce with stars like Mbappe, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. ahead of him. “I just focus on working hard and making the most of any chance the coach gives me, like today, and I hope I can help my teammates every time I play,” he added.
Madrid burst out of the gates, with Garcia’s looping header from a Rodrygo free-kick putting them ahead. Betis fought back and looked more dangerous for the rest of the first half, but couldn’t beat Madrid’s keeper Thibaut Courtois.
The second half was all Madrid. Garcia displayed his skill again, controlling a long ball from Fede Valverde on his chest and volleying home from outside the box. Asencio, another homegrown
