Real Madrid can do it without Kylian Mbappe - not only win, but also score five goals.
The Madrid team unexpectedly easily and convincingly defeated Betis (5:1) in the derby of the 18th round of La Liga, and the injured Frenchman watched the match from the ceremonial box.
Mbappe was absent, but Gonzalo Garcia, the author of a hat-trick, made his name. He scored the first two goals in the 20th and 50th minutes, before Raul Asensio scored in the 56th to make it 3-0.
The visitors pulled one back through Juan Hernandez in the 66th minute, and Gonzalo Garcia scored his third goal of the match in the 82nd minute. The final score was set by Garcia's second - Fran, in the third minute of stoppage time.
After their third consecutive win, their 14th in the league, Real are second in the table with 45 points, four behind first-place Barcelona.
Betis suffered their fourth defeat and are in sixth place with 28 points.
In the next round, Real will host Levante on January 17. Earlier today, Levante defeated Sevilla 3-0 on the away field.
Bonus video:
