MADRID: Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia scored a hat-trick as his side thrashed Real Betis 5-1 at the Bernabeu on Sunday to cut the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona to four points.
Xabi Alonso’s team, who briefly led the table before a slump in November, moved to 45 points from 19 matches, second behind defending champions Barcelona following their away win at Espanyol on Saturday. Betis remain sixth on 28 points.
Garcia stepped up in the absence of injured top scorer Kylian Mbappe, opening the scoring in the 20th minute with a free header at the far post from Rodrygo’s cross. The 21-year-old doubled Madrid’s lead early in the second half, controlling Federico Valverde’s long pass on his chest before firing home a volley.
Raul Asencio made it 3-0 with a header from another Rodrygo delivery before Garcia completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute, finishing with a clever back-heel from an Arda Guler assist. Fran Garcia wrapped up the rout in stoppage time, converting Valverde’s cross past goalkeeper Alvaro Valles.
The victory was Madrid’s third in a row and kept the pressure on their arch-rivals at the top.
“Right now, I’m pretty happy. It’s a great way to start the year,” Garcia said. “Three goals that are special — my first this season and my first hat-trick at the Bernabeu. My teammates and the manager give me all their trust, and I just try to give my best.”
