BARCELONA, Spain — In a dazzling display of soccer prowess, Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth set La Liga ablaze with an extraordinary performance that saw him net four goals in just 30 minutes, leading his team to a decisive 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. The Norwegian striker etched his name into the history books by securing the fastest hat trick ever recorded in La Liga, scoring three goals within the first 11 minutes of the match at the Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid.
Opta Statistics confirmed that Sorloth’s rapid treble surpassed the previous record set back in 1941 when Edmundo Suárez de Trabanco managed three goals in the opening 15 minutes.
Reflecting on the game, Sorloth said, “It was just one of those days where the ball seemed to fall perfectly for me. Every opportunity turned into a goal, thanks to some brilliant assists from my teammates.”
Sorloth, who has been gaining prominence in Diego Simeone’s squad after initially serving as a backup for Julián Álvarez, expressed satisfaction with his growing role.
“My teammates are aware that I’ll be in the box, ready for the cross,” he noted.
The striker’s goal-filled affair commenced with a perfectly timed volley from a Pablo Barrios cross. He doubled the score with a precise angled shot just inside the far post. Real Sociedad’s defense continued to flounder when Jon Martín’s attempted clearance deflected off Aritz Elustondo, allowing Sorloth to capitalize for his third goal.
Sorloth’s fourth goal arrived at the half-hour mark, where he showcased technical skill in controlling a pass from Samuel Lino before slipping the ball past goalkeeper Alex Remiro. The striker nearly added a fifth in the second half, narrowly missing when his volley struck the woodwork.
Having played for Real Sociedad between 2021 and 2023, Sorloth previously scored four goals for Villarreal against Real Madrid in a thrilling 4-4 match last season.
“These kinds of performances are incredibly fulfilling,” Sorloth shared. “I had a similar experience with Villarreal last year. It’s a wonderful feeling when it all comes together.”
With his latest feat, Sorloth joins a prestigious group of players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suárez, each having scored four or more goals in multiple Spanish league matches this century.
Atletico Madrid looks set to secure third place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad, positioned in 12th, faced challenges in achieving a Conference League spot during the final season under coach Imanol Alguacil.
“This is a moment to take full responsibility,” Alguacil stated. “It’s not the players’ fault, and I am proud of our achievements from the past six and a half years together.”
In other matches, Villarreal’s substitute Etta Eyong scored an 89th-minute goal to clinch a 1-0 victory over Girona, opening a four-point gap over Real Betis for the last Champions League berth.
Celta Vigo emerged victorious against Sevilla 3-2, despite being reduced to ten men after Marcos Alonso received a direct red card. Valencia scored three first-half goals to comfortably triumph over Getafe 3-0, a resurgence as they rose to 10th from the bottom of the league standings. Additionally, Mallorca secured a 2-1 win against Valladolid.