Record-breaker Sorloth hits four as Atletico smash Real Sociedad / Photo: © AFP
-
Wedding Etiquette: When Is It Appropriate to Bring a Plus-One?
-
Info Edge’s Naukri Hits Rs 240 Crore Annualized AI Revenue Run Rate
-
North Dakota Enacts Bipartisan Insulin Price Cap Amid National Push
-
Honda Recalls 635,000 Vehicles Over Software-Induced Power Steering Failure
-
Readers Question Naughty Dog’s ‘Intergalactic’ Hype and GTA 6 Marketing Strategy
-
Digi Power X Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Up 85% and AI Revenue Up Over 400% Compared to Q2
-
Westminster Council Unanimously Rejects Green Party Motion in 'Zionism is not racism' Vote
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Kingfishr Announces UK and European Spring Tour Following April Album Release
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Senators Push for Sports Betting Ad Ban as Bill S-211 Advances
Record-breaker Sorloth hits four as Atletico smash Real Sociedad
Alexander Sorloth hit four goals in the first half-an-hour to power Atletico Madrid to a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga.
The Norwegian hitman's quadruple helped Atletico tighten their grip on third place, while La Real slump to 12th.
Sorloth completed a hat-trick in the opening 11 minutes, the earliest in La Liga history, beating trebles netted by the 15th minute in 1929 and 1941 by Europa's Carles Bestit and Valencia's Mundo respectively.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone has often relied on Sorloth as a super-sub this season but the 29-year-old showed what he can do from the start in a devastating opening period.
The former Real Sociedad forward dissected the Basque side, opening the scoring after seven minutes with a lethal finish from Pablo Barrios' cross.
In the 10th minute Sorloth pounced again, this time drilling home from the edge of the box past Alex Remiro's despairing dive.
The third, in the 11th minute, was gifted to him by comical Real Sociedad defending and the striker gobbled up his chance from close range.
Sorloth netted his fourth in the 30th minute with another powerful finish after Javi Galan found him with a low cross.
Earlier, Villarreal maintained their push for Champions League football next season with a late 1-0 win at Girona.
The Yellow Submarine, fifth, with the top five qualifying, needed an 89th-minute header from Karl Etta Eyong to snatch victory at the Montilivi against a struggling Girona side.
The Catalans were without coach Michel Sanchez as he is under observation in hospital as a "precaution", Girona said Friday, against an undisclosed ailment.
Villarreal dominated the game but only found a breakthrough when Alfonso Pedraza's cross found Cameroon-born midfielder Eyong.
Victory puts Villarreal level with fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on 61 points, four ahead of Real Betis, sixth, who host Osasuna on Sunday.
Mallorca, ninth, kept their hopes of European football alive with a 2-1 win over relegated Real Valladolid.
On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona face Real Madrid, second, in a mouth-watering Clasico which will be crucial in deciding the Spanish title race.
E.Schubert--BTB
