Not since 1989 had academy graduates of Real Madrid combined for five goals in a LALIGA EA SPORTS match.
Real Madrid kicked off 2026 in style, cruising to a 5-1 victory over Real Betis at the Bernabéu on Sunday afternoon. Not only were the three points much needed, especially after FC Barcelona had beaten RCD Espanyol the night before, but this was a historic victory for Los Blancos for a number of reasons. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Gonzalo García scored three goals in the match, producing a “perfect hat-trick” of one headed goal, one with his right foot and one with his left foot. Not since Rodrygo against Galatasaray in the 2019/20 Champions League had a Real Madrid player scored a hat-trick of this kind, while the last time it happened in LALIGA EA SPORTS was when Cristiano Ronaldo scored with his head and with both feet against Real Sociedad in 2017/18.
Real Madrid’s other two goals against Real Betis were netted by Raúl Asencio and Fran García, meaning that all five of Los Blancos’ goals on the day came from Spanish players and academy graduates. That’s not something that happens very often.
You’d have to go back to 2001/02 to find the last time Los Blancos had five goals from Spaniards in the same LALIGA EA SPORTS game, with Fernando Morentes netting five times himself in a 7-0 victory over UD Las Palmas, in which Zinedine Zidane and an own goal were responsible for the other two goals. One year prior, during the 2000/01 campaign, we find a closer example to what took place this past weekend, when Raúl (with two), Guti, Fernando Hierro and Iván Helguera combined for five goals in a 5-0 home victory over Deportivo Alavés.
If looking for the last time five goals were scored by former academy graduates, you’d need to spool even further back in Real Madrid history. Specifically, to November 25th 1989, when the capital city side conquered Real Zaragoza 7-2 at home. That day, there were goals from Martín Vázquez (with two), Míchel, Manolo Sanchís and Emilio Butragueño, four of the players who made up the famous Quinta del Buitre. Hugo Sánchez scored the other two that day.
Now, 37 years later, it has happened again. La Fábrica, the name for Real Madrid’s youth academy, has produced many talented players throughout the 21st century, but not too many of them have both stayed at the club and been goalscorers. In 21-year-old Gonzalo García, Real Madrid might just have a new attacking gem on their hands. Meanwhile, Fran García and Asencio are better known for their defensive efforts, and both have shown over the past couple of years that they can be important players for this club.
Speaking after Sunday’s win, Xabi Alonso reflected on the stat about all five goalscorers being academy graduates, and specifically expressed his delight at Gonzalo García’s goals. The coach stated: “It’s a great stat that all five goals were scored by youth players. It’s very good news because it shows the great work being done in the youth academy and because the players who come through there always deliver. In the case of Gonzalo and his hat-trick, I’m delighted for him. It was an important and well-deserved victory at home, where it was important to start the year like this to give us a boost.”
Real Madrid will now fly out to Saudi Arabia to play in the Spanish Super Cup, taking on Atlético de Madrid in the semi-finals. A strong showing there, from their academy graduates and the squad as a whole, could set the tone for a bright 2026.
