Madrid, Jan. 5 -- Young striker Gonzalo Garcia scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid kept pace with FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga following a dominant 5-1 home victory over Real Betis on Sunday.
Garcia, who started due to Kylian Mbappe's knee injury, opened the scoring with a far-post header in the 20th minute and doubled the lead with a volley early in the second half.
Raul Asencio was left unmarked to make it 3-0 with a header, before Cucho Hernandez pulled a goal back for Betis. Garcia then completed his hat-trick with a back-flick, and Fran Garcia scored the fifth in injury time.
Atletico Madrid dropped two points in the title race after a 1-1 draw to Real Sociedad, whose new coach, Pellegrino Matarazzo, was making his debut.
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