🔥 Real Madrid put on a show at the Santiago Bernabeu on January 4, cruising to a 5–1 triumph over Real Betis thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from 21-year-old academy star Gonzalo Garcia. ⚽⚽⚽
Filling in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, Garcia opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a slick finish, then doubled his tally early in the second half. Raul Asencio added a third before Betis pulled one back through Cucho Hernandez. But Garcia wasn’t done – he sealed his first Bernabeu hat-trick in the 82nd minute, and Fran Garcia capped the win with a late fifth goal. 🎉
This win cuts the gap to league leaders Barcelona down to four points after Barça edged Espanyol 2–0 in a Catalan derby on Saturday. With top scorer Mbappe sidelined by a knee sprain, coach Xabi Alonso leaned on the young striker – a move that’s paying off big time. 👏
“These were three very special goals, my first hat-trick here at the Bernabeu, my first goals this season as well,” said Garcia. He added that competition for minutes is fierce with stars like Mbappe, Rodrygo, Bellingham, and Vinicius ahead of him, but he’s focused on working hard and making every chance count.
For fans tuning in from South Asia and Southeast Asia, this match is a reminder of how squad depth can turn the tide in top-flight football. Whether you’re cheering in Manila, Mumbai, or Jakarta, Garcia’s breakout performance shows there’s always room for fresh talent to shine. 🌏✨
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Gonzalo Garcia's hat-trick helps Real Madrid romp past Real Betis 5-1
cgtn.com
