MARCO ASENSIO scored a hat trick against former club Real Mallorca to help Real Madrid to a 6-1 win that lifted the side back above Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga on Wednesday. Asensio added to Karim Benzema’s early opener and doubled his personal tally after Lee Kang-in had pulled one back for Mallorca in a lively first half. Asensio curled in a delightful third before Benzema and Isco rounded off a thumping victory for Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid has now collected 16 points from its opening six matches, making this its best start to a season at this stage since 2013-14 when Carlo Ancelotti was last in charge. Benzema scored a late winner for Madrid in its victory against Valencia last weekend and opened the scoring inside three minutes, nicking the ball off Josep Gaya’s toes before racing through and coolly sliding past Manolo Reina. Asensio put Madrid on course for a sixth successive home league win against Mallorca 21 minutes later with a close-range finish after Rodrygo’s pass was deflected into his path. Mallorca took just 71 seconds to respond, however, as Matthew Hoppe picked out Lee and the South Korea international got the better of Thibaut Courtois. But Asensio raced through to restore Madrid’s two-goal lead and nearly completed his hat trick moments later with a shot that Martin Valjent blocked on the line. (SD-Agencies) | 