Asencio with debut goal
©IMAGO
Even without Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid with coach Xabi Alonso has not shown any weaknesses at the start of 2026. Thanks to a gala performance by Mbappé representative Gonzalo García, the Spanish record champions won at home against Real Betis Sevilla 5-1 (1-0) in the domestic league.
Mbappé, who was missing due to a ligament injury in his left knee, was replaced in the starting line-up by homegrown García – and how. The 21-year-old scored a hat-trick (20th minute/50th/82nd minute) and scored with a backheel to make it 4-1. Raúl Asencio also scored his first goal in the Madrid jersey (56th), Fran García his first goal of the season (90th + 3). Cucho Hernández scored for Real Betis to make it 1-3 (66′).
The Madrilenians thus reduced the gap to league leaders FC Barcelona to four points. Coach Hansi Flick’s team had already defeated Espanyol Barcelona 2-0 in the city derby on Saturday. Real’s next competitive game is on Thursday in Saudi Arabia. There Alonso and Co. will face city rivals Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup (8 p.m.).