Real Madrid 5-1 Betis: Gonzalo García's hat-trick brings the Whites closer to Barça

A brace from Gonzalo García and another header from Raúl Asencio allowed Real Madrid to seal their match on matchday 18 of LaLiga against Real Betis in just 56 minutes (5-1). Manuel Pellegrini's side, despite having drawn four of their last six visits to the Santiago Bernabéu, offered a very poor performance against the 'merengue' team.

Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappé due to injury, Xabi Alonso's team managed to win with more fluid play thanks to Jude Bellingham's presence as an attacking midfielder behind Gonzalo. Unlike 'Kiki', the academy player is a more positional '9', and this gave Madrid more order in transitions and possession management

Betis only reacted after the hour mark, with a goal from Cucho Hernández in the 65th minute. Real relaxed too much and suffered in defense again, forcing Thibaut Courtois to work harder than usual. Towards the end, Gonzalo's third goal and another from Fran García in stoppage time sealed the 'handful'.

Gonzalo's header put Madrid ahead in the first half

Los blancos controlled the match from the start with ease, taking advantage of the passivity of a slow-to-build-up and defensively clueless Betis. In the 20th minute, a free kick from Rodrygo on the left flank allowed Gonzalo to open the scoring with a good header, after easily shaking off the marking of Ricardo Rodríguez.

The 'verdiblancos' only approached the rival's area just before halftime with a shot from Deossa that went wide, grazing the post. Bartra claimed a penalty in the 40th minute for a foul overlooked by Hernández Hernández and VAR, but the first half ended with total control by the home team, who didn't even concede shots on target before the break.

Gonzalo García's 'hat-trick' avoided a dramatic end at the Bernabéu

At halftime, Pellegrini brought on Gio Lo Celso and former Barça player Héctor Bellerín for Deossa and Ángel Ortiz, but Betis continued to show no reaction. In the 50th minute, Gonzalo García extended the lead with a notable finish, once again taking advantage of the passivity of Betis's center-backs.

The forward received a pass from Valverde at the edge of the box and, after controlling it with his chest, **unleashed a right-footed volley to surprise the goalkeeper Valles**. Los Blancos seemed to seal the match in the 56th minute with another headed goal, this time scored by Asensio, who took advantage of a corner from Rodrygo on the right and a poor marking by the 'verdiblanco' defense.

Gonzalo García scored the partial 2-0 with a volley

Madrid considered the match resolved and Betis took advantage to gradually establish themselves in the opponent's half. Lo Celso hit a free kick against the post in the 61st minute and, four minutes later, Cucho Hernández took advantage of an error by Asensio to face Courtois and score a goal with a good finish.

Rodrigo Riquelme came close to further reducing the deficit with two very dangerous shots, one saved by Courtois and another hitting the crossbar. The crowd began to whistle at the Bernabéu due to the team's dip in form and Xabi Alonso's late substitutions, but Gonzalo, with a backheel, sealed his 'hat-trick' in the 83rd minute thanks to a pass from Arda Güler.

Fran García, who had come on late, sealed the 'handful' in the 90+3' by coming in as a '9' to finish off a cross from Valverde. Betis' defense had a disastrous afternoon, and the Whites finally managed to be decisive despite Mbappé's absence.

With the victory, Real gets within 4 points of Barça, who did their homework on Saturday at Espanyol's ground (0-2). Both teams have now completed the first half of LaLiga and this week will travel to Arabia to face Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club, respectively, in the Spanish Super Cup

Match Report: Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis

• Real Madrid: 5: Courtois; Valverde, Rüdiger (Mendy, min. 87), Asensio, Carreras; Tchouaméni (Ceballos, min. 82), Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo (Güler, min. 77), Vinicius (Mastantuono, min. 77) and Gonzalo García (Fran García, min. 87).
• Real Betis: 1: Valles; Ortiz (Bellerín, min. 46), Bartra, Natan, Rodríguez; Deossa (Lo Celso, min. 46), Marc Roca (Altimira, min. 66); Antony (Pablo García, min. 86), Pablo Fornals, Ruibal (Riquelme, min. 66); Cucho Hernández.
• Goals: 1-0, Gonzalo García (min. 20); 2-0, Gonzalo García (min. 50); 3-0, Raúl Asensio (min. 56); 3-1, Cucho Hernández (min. 65); 4-1, Gonzalo García (min. 83); 5-1, Fran García (min. 90+3).
• Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández. For Betis, he cautioned Ángel Ortiz. For Real Madrid, he cautioned Vinicius Jr. In the first half, he missed a possible penalty by Jude Bellingham on Marc Bartra, without a VAR call.
• Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu.
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 18 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26.