Dominant Display by Real Madrid in La Liga Victory

omidbasir- Real Madrid, playing without the injured Kylian Mbappé, asserted their dominance with a resounding victory over Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday. A remarkable hat-trick from 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia, alongside goals from Raul Asencio and Fran Garcia, kept Los Blancos within four points of their rivals, Barcelona. Coach Alonso expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance.

In a post-match interview, he stated, “It was an important and well-deserved win to start the year at home. It’s crucial to begin in this manner: calmly and with positive sentiments as we approach the Super Cup. I appreciate this victory in the context of La Liga. Barcelona won yesterday, so we need to secure many more victories. This match marked the conclusion of the first half of the season, and we have already accumulated 45 points, which would project us to 90 in La Liga. The goal is to maintain a winning pace in the upcoming fixtures, as the intensity will be high. Starting tomorrow, our focus will be solely on the Super Cup.”

Although Vinicius Jr. did not have his most impactful game, Alonso was quick to defend the Brazilian, emphasizing his threat against the opposition. When questioned about the criticism Vinicius faced from some fans, he responded, “I believe Vini contributed significantly. He started the game well, forcing [Ortiz] to receive a booking, which necessitated a change in their right-back. [Vini] was particularly dangerous, especially in the first half. He continues to push forward and contributes to the team. Personally, I appreciated Vini’s performance. He will be crucial for us as we approach the Supercopa against Atletico.”

Despite Vinicius’s ongoing goal drought, which has extended to 15 games since October, Garcia celebrated his first goals of the season—an achievement Alonso was thrilled about.

“Gonzalo had a dream game,” remarked the former Liverpool midfielder. “Playing at the Bernabéu in his first season with the first team and scoring a hat-trick is remarkable. I am genuinely happy for him, given the dedication he shows daily, regardless of whether he plays or not. His attitude is always commendable; he exemplifies what it means to be a Real Madrid academy player.”

Garcia himself radiated excitement after his treble for Madrid, stating, “It’s a special afternoon. I am very, very happy to start the year this way. This is my first hat trick at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid has immense competition, and I know I am the natural replacement for [Kylian] Mbappé, but the coach and my teammates continually instill confidence in me.”

Looking ahead, Alonso’s team will face Atletico Madrid in a Super Cup semi-final on Thursday, with the victor set to challenge either Barcelona or Athletic Club in the final shortly thereafter. Following this, they will return to La Liga action on January 17 against Levante.