Real Betis' Joaquin is oldest player to net La Liga hat trick in win over Athletic Bilbao

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:18 am
Joaquin broke a record held by the late Alfredo di Stefano with his hat trick against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Joaquin broke a record held by the late Alfredo di Stefano with his hat trick against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
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Real Betis captain Joaquin became the oldest player to score a hat trick in La Liga history on Sunday, scoring three times in the opening 20 minutes as his side went on to defeat Athletic Bilbao 3-1.

The 38-year-old midfielder struck just two minutes in, then again in the 11th and 20th minutes to give the home team a commanding lead, with Inaki Williams' penalty on the stroke of half-time proving nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

Prior to Sunday, Spaniard Joaquin -- who is in his second spell at his boyhood club -- had scored three goals in La Liga this season. He had never before scored a hat trick.

The treble saw him break the record held by the late Alfredo di Stefano, whose last hat trick came in 1964 when he was 37.

"I have never been a big goalscorer, so to score three goals against a side like Athletic makes me very proud," Joaquin said after the match.

"Especially at my age, which makes it even harder. It's the first hat-trick of my life and I don't think I'll be able to get another one."

The win was Betis' third in a row and saw them rise to 11th in the table.

Meanwhile, the result dealt a blow to Bilbao, who were on a four-match winning streak and would have gone fourth in La Liga with a win.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.