Real Madrid defeated Real Betis 5-1 on Sunday to stay in the La Liga lead, Barcelona, for a hat-trick.
After 20 minutes, Spanish striker Garcia opened the scoring, filling in for Kylian Mbappe, who was injured, before volleying home a superb second.
Before Cucho Hernandez curled one back for Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors, sixth, Raul Asencio extended Xabi Alonso’s side’s lead.
Garcia, a product of the Madrid youth academy, scored a clever flicked hat-trick to delight the Santiago Bernabeu crowd in the final minute.
After the champions defeated Espanyol 2-0 in a Catalan derby on Saturday, Madrid, second, restored Barca’s lead by four points.
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Alonso was put under more pressure after reporting that he was in danger of losing after a run of inconsistent form, but he managed to survive until 2026.
Alonso turned to Garcia, a 21-year-old forward, to take his place after Mbappe was sidelined with a knee sprain during the Club World Cup last summer.
Garcia proved himself once more in the United States, but his opportunities have been limited this season.
He declared to reporters, “These were three very special goals, my first hat-trick here at the Bernabeu, and my first goals this season,” before revealing he still faces a minute-long debate.
“It’s obvious that I have the best players in the world right next to me, like Vinicius, Rodrygo (Goes), and Jude Bellingham,” he continued.
“I just keep working on myself, which means taking opportunities that my coach gives me, like today, and ensuring that I can give my teammates every minute I get.”
Academy talents strike
With Garcia’s looping header from Rodrygo’s free kick, Madrid quickly took the lead.
Although they were unable to put pressure on Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Betis fought back and were the more dangerous team for the rest of the first half.
After a superb finish from Garcia, who controlled Fede Valverde’s long ball on his chest and fired home from the edge of the box, Madrid extended their lead early in the second half.
One of Alonso’s more impressive performances came from Asencio, who also graduated from Madrid’s youth academy. Rodriguez headed home Rodrygo’s corner before the hour mark for Madrid’s third.
Madrid relaxed and Betis created some danger with Giovani Lo Celso and Rodrigo Riquelme rounding Courtois before drilling home with the points.
With a stunning flick from Arda Guler’s cross, Garcia restored Madrid’s three-goal lead to applause from the watching Mbappe.
Fran Garcia, who played for Real Madrid at the youth level before transferring to Rayo Vallecano, fired home Valverde’s cross with the nearly final kick of the game.
“We had a tough game, one to forget, and we need to turn the tables as quickly as we can,” said Betis midfielder Marc Roca.
Fourth, Atletico Madrid travels to Real Sociedad later.
In Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Real Madrid will square off against Atletico in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.
Source: Channels TV
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