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Marissa Thomas That's all for today. Thanks for joining us as Real Madrid beat Real Betis 5-1. FT: Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis Gonzalo Garcia has become the first Real Madrid player to score a hat-trick while attempting only three shots in more than six years - it was last done by Rodrygo on 6 November 2019. FT: Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis Real Madrid have scored in 17 of their 19 games, only Barcelona (19) have scored goals in more matches in La Liga this season. FT: Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis Gonzalo's first three goals for Real Madrid contribute to a commanding win for Xabi Alonso's side. They move four points behind leaders Barcelona. Fran Garcia Real Betis switch off at the back and Fran Garcia scores from close range. Real Madrid 4-1 Real Betis Real Betis make their final change as Pablo Garcia comes on for Antony. Real Madrid 4-1 Real Betis HUGE applause from the Real Madrid fans as Gonzalo Garcia is taken off. Fran Garcia replaces him. Ferland Mendy also comes on for Antonio Rudiger. Real Madrid 4-1 Real Betis All three of Gonzalo Garcia's goals have been of the highest quality. My personal favourite was the second because the chest control and the finish was so crisp. It is his first hat-trick in La Liga and the afternoon couldn't have gone any better for him. Gonzalo Garcia Hat-trick alert! Another delightful finish from Gonzalo Garcia. Arda Guler crosses the ball into the box and he backheels it into the net. Simply sublime. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso responds by making a double change. On: Franco Mastantuono and Arda Guler. Off: Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis There are whistles from the home fans. They are not impressed at the drop off in intensity from their side. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis Real Madrid are feeling the pressure. Rodrigo Riquelme has been brilliant since coming on and he strikes the woodwork with a fierce effort. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis Antony is on the charge but he cuts inside and takes the shot too early. It is easily saved by Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid are looking shaky. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis Suddenly Real Betis look up for the fight again. Thibaut Courtois is called into action once more but makes a good save to deny Rodrigo Riquelme from close range. Real Madrid 3-1 Real Betis Another double change for Real Betis after that goal. On: Sergi Altimira and Rodrigo Riquelme. Off: Marc Roca and Aitor Ruibal. Cucho Hernandez No clean sheet for Real Madrid. Cucho Hernandez slots into the bottom corner after getting past Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger. Real Madrid 3-0 Real Betis Giovani Lo Celso curls a free-kick towards goal and it hits the post and bounces away. Thibaut Courtois was stranded. Real Madrid 3-0 Real Betis The scoreline now looks very comfortable for the hosts. Raul Asencio That is most likely game over. Rodrygo takes a Real Madrid corner and Raul Asencio ghosts in behind Marc Bartra to head home. Easy as you like. Gonzalo Garcia's previous goals for the Real Madrid first team came in the Copa Del Rey and the Fifa Club World Cup Gonzalo Garcia scored a brilliant hat-trick - his first La Liga goals - to help Real Madrid thrash Real Betis at the Bernabeu stadium. The 21-year-old forward, playing in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe, opened the scoring with a header after 20 minutes, and doubled the lead with a superb volley early in the second half. Raul Asencio headed in from a corner to make it 3-0, but Betis pulled a goal back when Cucho Hernandez rounded Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois. But after Betis had hit the woodwork and caused worries for the hosts, Garcia capped his successful afternoon with a sublime backheel from close range. Fran Garcia added Madrid's fifth in stoppage time for a win that reduced the gap between second-placed Madrid and leaders Barcelona to four points while Betis stay in sixth place. Mbappe sat out the home side's first game of 2026 with a twisted knee, but Gonzalo Garcia's display meant that Xabi Alonso's side did not miss the prolific French striker too much. Gonzalo Garcia, who was joint top scorer with four at the Fifa Club World Cup in 2025, was left unmarked at the back post to head back beyond Betis keeper Alvaro Valles for his first goal in La Liga. But his second, displaying fine control with his chest before volleying beyond Valles into the bottom corner, settled the nerves of the home fans after Madrid had looked sluggish before half-time. Asencio was also left unmarked at a set-piece to head in for his first senior goal as the home side threatened to embarrass Betis, managed by former Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini. But Betis dug deep and after Lo Selso's free-kick hit a post, Hernandez steadied himself for a cool finish from a tight angle after going around Courtois. Riquelme was unlucky to see his curling shot rebound off a post, but with Madrid's fans becoming restless Gonzalo Garcia settled the result with a sublime flick from Arda Guler's low cross from the left. Substitute Fran Garcia, who had replaced Gonzalo late on, converted Federico Valverde's cross from close range deep into stoppage time. Madrid will not play in next weekend's round of La Liga matches because of their Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday, 8 January. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 4th January 2026 at 18: 56 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. 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