Xabi Alonso praised Vinícius Júnior as “fundamental” to the team, defending the forward’s performance after he received boos from sections of the crowd during Real Madrid‘s 5-1 victory against Real Betis at the Bernabéu on Sunday.
The young striker Gonzalo García starred with a hat trick, while Raúl Asencio and Fran García also found the back of the net. This win marked Madrid’s first match of 2026 as they remain four points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Vinícius was impactful in the first half, compelling Betis to replace struggling right-back Ángel Ortiz at the break. However, he faded in the latter stages and was met with boos upon his substitution in the 77th minute.
“I believe Vini contributed significantly,” Alonso commented in the post-match press conference when asked about the crowd’s reaction. “He started strong, earning a booking for [Ortiz], which forced their hand to swap right-backs.
“[Vini] was quite threatening, particularly in the first half. He keeps pushing and assists the team. Personally, I appreciated his performance. He’ll be crucial for us now as we head into the Supercopa against Atlético.”
This week, Madrid will head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa, with a semifinal clash against Atlético Madrid scheduled for Thursday, followed by a potential final on Sunday.
Vinícius is currently on a 15-match goal drought that stretches back to early October, but García, aged 21, made his mark with his first goals of the season.
“Gonzalo had an incredible match,” Alonso remarked. “Debuting at the Bernabéu and scoring a hat trick in his first season with the first team is remarkable.
“I’m really proud of him; he shows an excellent attitude day in and day out, regardless of his playing time. He exemplifies what it means to be a Real Madrid academy player.”
García shone in last summer’s Club World Cup, finishing as one of the top scorers with four goals, although his opportunities have been limited this season.
On Sunday, he stepped in for Kylian Mbappé, who missed the match due to a knee sprain and remains a doubt for the Supercopa.
“It was a special day,” García expressed. “Starting the year with a hat trick at the Bernabéu feels fantastic.
“This is Real Madrid. The competition here is fierce. I recognize that I’m next in line for Mbappé, but my coach and teammates continuously uplift me.”
“I admit that I haven’t had a lot of playing time,” García added. “But that’s understandable since I have Mbappé in front of me, who’s having a stellar season, scoring nearly every game. He’s the best player in the world, and I just need to focus on my own development.”