Madrid: Real Madrid got 2026 underway in some style, enjoying a win over Betis at the Bernab©u. Gonzalo was the star of the show, delivering a display and opening the scoring after 20 minutes with a header, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Gonzalo doubled the lead after the break with a right-footed volley from the edge of the box, and capped off his performance with a backheel finish. Fran Garca and Asencio also found the net, the latter scoring from another choreographed set-piece routine by Xabi Alonso’s side. Cucho Hern¡ndez grabbed Betis’ only goal.
Real Madrid came out in determined fashion and nearly struck after just three minutes, when Valverde’s drive flew inches wide. The hosts looked dominant early on, but Betis held firm until the 20th minute, when Rodrygo whipped a free kick to the far post and Gonzalo rose to head home. From 1-0 until halftime, possession was evenly shared, with few clear chances at either end.
After the restart, Gonzalo quickly notched his second – a goal of class. In the 50th minute, Valverde crossed from the right, and the academy graduate brought the ball down on his chest at the edge of the box, and without letting the ball drop, fired a precise volley past lvaro Valles, whose outstretched hand could do nothing to keep it out. Just five minutes later, it was 3-0 thanks to another academy star: Asencio. Rodrygo swung in a corner, and the centre-back powered home a towering header.
From that point, the game exploded into life. Lo Celso hit the post from a free kick in the 62nd minute, and two minutes later Rodrygo was denied by Valles in a one-on-one. In the 66th minute, Cucho Hern¡ndez pulled one back for Betis (3-1), and ten minutes later Riquelme struck the woodwork. Real Madrid did find the back of the net again with 82 minutes gone, and it was that man again. Gonzalo completed his hat-trick with a backheel finish from Carreras’ assist. The Bernab©u rose to a standing ovation as he was substituted in the 87th minute. Deep into stoppage time, Fran Garca added a fifth to put the gloss on a win over Betis to kick off the year.