Gonzalo García Hat-Trick Powers Real Madrid to Dominant 5-1 Rout

MADRID, SPAIN — Real Madrid delivered a statement performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, dismantling Real Betis 5-1 to strengthen their grip on second place in the LALIGA standings with 39 points. The hosts showcased their attacking prowess with Gonzalo García's brilliant hat-trick leading the charge, while Real Betis, sitting sixth with 25 points, found themselves overwhelmed despite a brief moment of resistance in the second half.

The match began with Real Madrid asserting their dominance early, and it took just 20 minutes for the breakthrough to arrive. Gonzalo García opened the scoring with a perfectly placed header from the right side of the six-yard box, meeting Rodrygo's pinpoint cross following a set piece situation. The young forward's movement and timing were impeccable, giving goalkeeper Álvaro Valles no chance as the ball nestled into the bottom left corner.

Real Madrid doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half when García struck again, this time with his right foot from outside the box. Federico Valverde's clever assist found García in space, and the forward unleashed a powerful strike that arrowed into the bottom left corner, leaving Valles rooted to the spot. The goal showcased García's versatility and composure in front of goal.

Just six minutes later, Raúl Asencio extended the lead to 3-0 with a towering header from the centre of the box. Rodrygo once again turned provider, delivering a dangerous cross from a corner that Asencio met with authority, directing his effort into the top right corner. The defensive midfielder's aerial prowess proved too much for the Betis backline to handle.

Real Betis finally found a response in the 66th minute when Cucho Hernández pulled one back for the visitors. Aitor Ruibal threaded a clever through ball that found Hernández on the left side of the six-yard box, and the Colombian striker made no mistake with his right-footed finish into the bottom left corner. For a brief moment, hope flickered for the away side.

However, any thoughts of a comeback were swiftly extinguished when García completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute. Arda Güler provided the assist, and García finished from very close range with his left foot, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. The goal came after Franco Mastantuono's initial effort was blocked, but García was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the rebound.

The scoring wasn't finished yet. Deep into stoppage time, Fran García added a fifth for Real Madrid with a left-footed strike from the centre of the box. Federico Valverde delivered another assist, this time with a cross following a corner, and García swept the ball home into the bottom left corner to complete the rout.

The tactical battle was decidedly one-sided throughout the 90 minutes. Real Madrid dominated the ball with 61.1% possession, pinning Real Betis back for long stretches and dictating the tempo of the match. The hosts' midfield trio of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Jude Bellingham controlled the central areas, with Bellingham's driving runs and Camavinga's defensive work rate proving particularly effective. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo provided constant width and creativity, stretching the Betis defense and creating space for García to exploit.

Real Betis struggled to contain Madrid's attacking waves, despite showing moments of quality themselves. Marc Roca and Giovani Lo Celso worked tirelessly in midfield, while Antony and Aitor Ruibal tried to provide outlets on the flanks. Goalkeeper Álvaro Valles made four saves to keep the scoreline from being even more lopsided, while at the other end, Thibaut Courtois was equally busy with four saves of his own, including crucial stops from Antony and Rodrigo Riquelme.

By the numbers, Real Madrid's superiority was evident across the board. They created more chances with 19 shots compared to Betis' 13, and were more clinical with nine shots on target to the visitors' five. The hosts also won five corners to Betis' eight, though they proved far more dangerous from their set pieces. The match remained relatively disciplined, with both sides picking up one yellow card each—Vinícius Júnior for Real Madrid in the 53rd minute after a foul on Pablo Fornals.

The turning point came in that devastating six-minute spell between the 50th and 56th minutes when Real Madrid scored twice to effectively kill the contest. García's second goal and Asencio's header transformed what had been a comfortable lead into an insurmountable advantage, breaking Betis' spirit and opening the floodgates for the final onslaught.

Looking ahead, Real Madrid will host Sevilla on January 11 in what promises to be another crucial LALIGA encounter, while Real Betis will look to bounce back when they host Real Oviedo on the same day in what will likely be a Copa del Rey fixture.