Staff Reporter.
Marco Asensio scored a superb hat-trick as Real Madrid reclaimed top spot in La Liga with an emphatic victory over Mallorca at the Bernabeu.
Asensio scored twice in five first-half minutes – either side of Lee Kang-in’s well-taken response for the visitors.
The Spaniard found the bottom corner to make it 4-1 10 minutes after half-time.
Karim Benzema had opened the scoring after three minutes and added a late fifth for Real, before Isco completed a 6-1 rout with six minutes remaining.
Atletico Madrid had moved top following a 2-1 win against Getafe on Tuesday and now sit two points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s side – with both teams unbeaten after six games.
A slip by defender Josep Antoni Gaya Martinez allowed the in-form Benzema to get Real off to the perfect start.
Asensio – who left Mallorca for Real in 2015 – doubled the advantage when Vinicius Junior’s cut-back was pushed into his path by the goalkeeper, and he then further extended Real’s advantage, finishing from a couple of Benzema assists for his second and third goals.
“I’m really happy, today I had the chance to start, I knew I had to make the most of it, I’ve worked hard for this moment and very happy with the win, with the goals and to keep this team dynamic going,” Asensio said after the match.
The ex-Mallorca man added: “It was a special game for me, it’s a club I have a lot of affection for, where I grew up, they’ve started the season well and I hope the rest goes well.”
Benzema made it eight goals and seven assists in La Liga this season with a deflected second goal of the night, before Vinicius teed up substitute Isco to round off an impressive display by the hosts.
Ancelotti’s side have also scored more goals after six games than any LaLiga team since Barcelona in the 2013-14 season while Real have not scored as many goals after six games since the 1987-88 campaign.
Real top the standings on 16 points from six games, two ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid.