Real Madrid 6-1 Mallorca: Marco Asensio scores stunning hat-trick with Karim Benzema adding a brace

Real Madrid worried they might be short of goals this season having failed to sign Kylian Mbappe in the summer but Carlo Ancelotti has them scoring at will and this 6-1 win sent them top of La Liga with an average of more than three goals a game in the six they have played.

Marco Asensio took the matchball home after his hat-trick. Starting his first game of the season behind Karim Benzema he didn’t celebrate any of his strikes because they came against his home-town club but he wore a big smile when taken off 20 minutes from time.

Benzema got a double and the second goal was his 200th in La Liga for Madrid. Either side of him he had Vinicus and Rodrygo running newly promoted Mallorca ragged and the score did not flatter a brilliant Madrid.

They were ahead after just three minutes when Benzema pounced on a slip by Josep Gaya to beat Manolo Reina. It was his seventh goal of the season and it wasn’t long before Asensio got his first.

It was on 26 minutes when Vinicius and Rodrygo combined down the left and Asensio converted the loose ball from close range.

Sixty seconds later Lee Kang-In made it 2-1 with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area and there was hope for Mallorca but that hope lasted four minutes – the time it took Asensio to make it 3-1.

Militao played a superb pass to Benzema whose cushion assist set up Asensio to finish past Reina.

Five minutes into the second half Real Madrid thought they had scored a brilliant fourth. 

Rodrygo Goes ran from the halfway line down the right and crossed to Benzema who scored past Reina. 

Joan Sastre was tripped in the area and replays were unclear whether he clipped his own heels or been caught by Benzema as the player ran across him.

The referee opted for the second option and a free-kick was given.

It was four on 55 minutes when from Militao’s pass, Rodrygo found Benzema and he crossed to Asensio who curled the ball into the far corner. 

Benzema would not be denied his second goal and it was very special. David Alaba floated the ball over the top of Mallorca’s defence and Benzema controlled it on his back allowing it to bounce to his right before unleashing a shot that clipped two Mallorca defenders before going past Reina.

Isco came on for a late cameo and side-footed in the sixth when set up by Vinicius.

All that was missing was a goal from the Brazilian winger but neither he or Ancelotti will have any complaints. Even Luka Jovic almost joined the fun with a spectacular volley that Reina saved and a header on to the bar from the unselfish Vinicius.

Madrid are top and have now scored 21 goals – that’s more than twice times as many as any other side in the division. ‘The competition to get in the team is tough,’ admitted Asensio.

‘I had the chance to start the game and I knew I had to take it and I’m happy to have done that. Mallorca are a special club for me so I couldn’t celebrate against them.’

Asked if he felt he had something to prove he added: ‘I wanted to show that I can contribute and I did that.’

His goals came after reports suggested that he felt ‘provoked’ by manager Ancelotti after he was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win against Valencia.

It was stated that Asensio is ‘not happy with the role he has under Ancelotti’ and had pushed for a move away from the club once the transfer window reopens in January.