Days after inspiring Real Madrid to a vital win over Paris Saint-Germain with a super-sub cameo, Marco Asensio was at it again, this time starting and scoring a brace as Los Blancos thrashed Real Betis 5-3 at the Benito Villamarin.

Effectively out of the title race, Zinedine Zidane’s men are effectively competing to finish in the top-four and on Sunday they raced out of the blocks with Asensio reacting fastest to a Cristiano Ronaldo rebound by nodding past Antonio Adan in the 11th minute.

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Betis, in contention to make the European spots, were spurred into action and caused their fancied opponents plenty of discomfort with their attacking forays and would level proceedings in the 33rd minute with Aissa Mandi rising high to head home.

The fact that left-back Marcelo had to be subbed off after suffering a hamstring injury had clearly thrown the visitors off their game and his replacement, Nacho, would score an own goal soon after to compound their misery.

Betis had the lead at half-time and with Real’s La Liga travails well-documented this season, Zidane’s men were clearly feeling the pressure but captain Sergio Ramos came up with yet another thumping header to equalise in the 50th minute.

And Asensio would add to his tally with a well-taken first-time finish right on the hour-mark after some good work from Dani Carvajal on the right wing before Ronaldo took the game from the hosts with a powerful shot that beat a wrong-footed Adan in the 65th minute.

Betis substitute Sergio Leon struck with just five minutes left in the tie to make for a nervy ending but Karim Benzema, on in place of Gareth Bale, would finally make the three points safe for the visitors with a close-range finish in the 92nd minute.

With their 13th win of the season, Zidane’s men remain in fourth place, a point behind Valencia but they have played a game less than Los Che and will look to overhaul them in the coming weeks.