Gonzalo Garcia, because Real Madrid is not just about Kylian Mbappe

MADRID, MONDAY — Without their main goal scorer, Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid put in a stunning performance as they defeated Real Betis 5-1 at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday (January 4, 2026). Gonzalo Garcia, who was tasked with filling in for Mbappe, responded with a hat trick. The Real Madrid academy graduate emphasized that his brilliant performance in the Club World Cup was no fluke.

An event can be considered a coincidence if it occurs only once and in a rare moment. Some parties claim that Garcia's performance in the Club World Cup, where he scored four goals and provided one assist in six matches, is merely a coincidence. Mbappe's absence due to illness during the Club World Cup proved to be a blessing for Garcia, who received a significant amount of playing time.

After Mbappe's return, Garcia's charm has gradually faded. Real coach Xabi Alonso tends to place more trust in Mbappe as the leader of the attacking line. In this situation, Garcia hardly gets many playing opportunities. The predictions of Spanish football analysts who consider Garcia to be a fleeting wonder seem to be proven true.

However, Garcia completely dismissed that assumption. The moment arose when Mbappe suffered a left knee sprain just before facing Betis. The loss of Mbappe raised concerns about Real's goal productivity. Mbappe is the main goal scorer for Real this season. The French player has accumulated 29 goals in 24 matches across all competitions.

Alonso did not hesitate to entrust the center forward position to Garcia, a choice he would never regret later. Garcia performed exceptionally, becoming the hero of Real's victory. He broke the deadlock for his team in the 20th minute, receiving a free-kick pass from Rodrygo. Garcia's movement, attempting to free himself from the marking of the Betis defender, demonstrated his maturity.

"Gonzalo is very clever. He knows how to run, he scores goals, which is very important. He elevates the team's level," said Alonso at the press conference following the match, Monday (5/1/2026) early morning WIB.

As if scoring one goal was not enough, Garcia repeated the feat in the second half. His second goal was even more captivating. Receiving a cross from Federico Valverde, Garcia's chest control was impeccable. He then decided to shoot despite being positioned outside the Betis penalty area. With a volley technique, Garcia directed the ball to the lower left corner, which was difficult for goalkeeper Alvaro Valles to reach.

Garcia's technique for the third goal was even more impressive. This time, he executed a backheel shot with great composure and accuracy. Franco Mastantuono also received praise for his contribution, providing the low pass that delighted Garcia.

"Congratulations to Gonzalo, today is his day. He deserves it. He has always worked very hard. He deserves to achieve such results today," said Real captain, Valverde.

Not only Valverde, but Mbappe, who watched the match from the VIP stands, was also seen standing and applauding every time Garcia scored a goal. The only moment that disrupted Real's happiness was the equalizing goal by Betis, scored by Cucho Hernandez in the 66th minute. Hernandez's goal stemmed from Real's very slow defensive transition.

In addition to the three points, Real also received another significant reward from the match against Betis. This proves that "Los Blancos" is not solely about Mbappe. Criticism suggesting that Real is too dependent on Mbappe's sharpness is not entirely accurate. When Mbappe is absent, many other players can step in.

Being able to be productive without Mbappe is an interesting aspect of Real's resounding victory. Another unique fact is that all five of Real's goals in this match were scored by products of the club's academy, "La Fabrica."

In addition to Garcia, there was Raul Asencio who scored the third goal for Real, taking advantage of a corner kick. Fran Garcia, who came on as a substitute, capped off Real's victory with a tap-in just seconds before the match ended.

The productivity of the graduates from "La Fabrica" seems to challenge the top officials of Real who continue to uphold the DNA of recruiting star players. Garcia, Fran, and Asencio assert that the academy graduates of Real are also capable of performing impressively when needed.

The decisive victory over Betis can be considered one of Real's best performances this season. This fact is quite ironic as Real was able to perform well while relying on players who graduated from the academy.

Thanks to this victory, Real has narrowed the gap with Barcelona at the top of the temporary Spanish League standings. The difference between the two teams, which was previously seven points, has now been reduced to four points. Barca still leads with 49 points, while Real follows in second place with 45 points. (REUTERS)