Gonzalo Garcia announced himself on the La Liga stage with a sensational hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside Real Betis in emphatic fashion at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Handed a rare start with Kylian Mbappe sidelined through injury, the 21-year-old forward delivered his first league goals in style.
He opened the scoring after 20 minutes, glancing a header into the far corner, before producing a superb chest-and-volley combination early in the second half to double Madrid’s lead.
Raul Asencio made it 3-0 with a free header from a corner, marking his first senior goal, but Betis briefly threatened a comeback when Cucho Hernandez rounded Thibaut Courtois to pull one back.
The visitors also struck the woodwork and enjoyed a spell of pressure that unsettled the hosts.
Any doubts were extinguished when Gonzalo completed his treble with a delightful backheel finish from close range, latching on to Arda Guler’s low cross.
Fran Garcia added a fifth in stoppage time to cap a convincing victory.
The win cuts the gap between second-placed Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona to four points, while Betis remain sixth.
Madrid now turn their attention to the Spanish Super Cup, meaning they will sit out the next round of league fixtures.
With Mbappe absent after twisting his knee, Gonzalo ensured Madrid barely felt the loss of their top scorer.
Having impressed at last year’s Club World Cup, where he netted four times, opportunities in La Liga had been limited by the form of Madrid’s established stars.
“I just try to work every day and take the chances the coach gives me,” Gonzalo said afterwards.
“Today was one of those moments.”
His movement and finishing punished Betis’ defensive lapses, particularly for his opener at the back post.
The second goal, however, showcased his quality, controlling the ball on his chest before volleying into the bottom corner.
Betis, coached by former Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini, showed resilience and briefly rattled the hosts when Giovani Lo Celso and Alex Moreno hit the woodwork.
But Gonzalo’s ingenuity settled the contest before Fran Garcia’s late strike completed a dominant Madrid display.
