{"id":120983,"date":"2026-01-04T18:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/real-madrid-5-1-betis-gonzalo-hat-trick-and-an-open-league_315675_102\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:35:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:35:51","slug":"real-madrid-5-1-betis-gonzalo-hat-trick-and-an-open-league_315675_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/laliga\/real-madrid-5-1-betis-gonzalo-hat-trick-and-an-open-league_315675_102.html","title":{"rendered":"Real Madrid 5-1 Betis: Gonzalo Garc\u00eda’s hat-trick brings the Whites closer to Bar\u00e7a"},"content":{"rendered":"

Real Madrid once again closed the gap to Bar\u00e7a to 4 points thanks to a comfortable victory against Betis (5-1). Despite Mbapp\u00e9’s absence, Xabi Alonso’s team thrashed them at the Bernab\u00e9u<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

A brace from Gonzalo Garc\u00eda<\/strong> and another header from Ra\u00fal Asencio<\/strong> allowed Real Madrid<\/strong> to seal their match on matchday 18 of LaLiga against Real Betis<\/strong> in just 56 minutes (5-1). Manuel Pellegrini<\/strong>‘s side, despite having drawn four of their last six visits to the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u, offered a very poor performance against the ‘merengue’ team.<\/p>

Despite the absence of Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a> 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<\/p>

Betis only reacted after the hour mark, with a goal from Cucho Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong> in the 65th minute. Real relaxed too much and suffered in defense again, forcing Thibaut Courtois<\/strong> to work harder than usual. Towards the end, Gonzalo’s third goal and another from Fran Garc\u00eda in stoppage time sealed the ‘handful’.<\/p>

Gonzalo’s header put Madrid ahead in the first half<\/h2>

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<\/strong> with a good header, after easily shaking off the marking of Ricardo Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>

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<\/strong> for a foul overlooked by Hern\u00e1ndez Hern\u00e1ndez 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.<\/p>

Gonzalo Garc\u00eda’s ‘hat-trick’ avoided a dramatic end at the Bernab\u00e9u<\/h2>

At halftime, Pellegrini brought on Gio Lo Celso and former Bar\u00e7a player H\u00e9ctor Beller\u00edn for Deossa and \u00c1ngel Ortiz<\/strong>, but Betis continued to show no reaction. In the 50th minute, Gonzalo Garc\u00eda extended the lead with a notable finish, once again taking advantage of the passivity of Betis’s center-backs.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

\"Gonzalo
Gonzalo Garc\u00eda scored the partial 2-0 with a volley<\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

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 Hern\u00e1ndez took advantage of an error by Asensio<\/strong> to face Courtois and score a goal with a good finish.<\/p>

Rodrigo Riquelme<\/strong> 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 Bernab\u00e9u 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 G\u00fcler<\/strong>.<\/p>

Fran Garc\u00eda<\/strong>, 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 Mbapp\u00e9’s absence.<\/p>

With the victory, Real gets within 4 points of Bar\u00e7a<\/strong>, who did their homework on Saturday at Espanyol’s ground (0-2)<\/a>. Both teams have now completed the first half of LaLiga and this week will travel to Arabia to face Atl\u00e9tico de Madrid<\/strong> and Athletic Club<\/strong>, respectively, in the Spanish Super Cup<\/a><\/p>

Match Report: Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis<\/h2>