Alexander Sorloth hits four to sink Real Sociedad

Alexander Sorloth struck four times in the first half – including a stunning four-minute hat-trick – as Atletico Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-0 on Saturday.

The Norwegian opened the scoring in the seventh minute at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and quickly added two more before the 11th.

That was the earliest a treble had been completed in LaLiga but he was not finished there as he put the result beyond all doubt with a fourth goal against his old club on the half-hour.

Sorloth’s first came as he raced onto a superb skidding ball from the right by Pablo Barrios, finishing on the half-volley with a powerful side-footed effort.

The former Crystal Palace forward doubled the lead moments later, this time after being played through by Samuel Lino. He cleverly wrong-footed Aritz Elustondo before firing low across goal past Alex Remiro.

The hat-trick goal was a calamity from Sociedad’s point of view as Jon Martin headed a clearance against team-mate Elustondo, but Sorloth gleefully snapped up the rebound.

Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea and Martin Zubimendi had shots blocked in response but Sorloth grabbed his fourth after a neat touch and shot from the edge of the area from a threaded Javi Galan pass.

The second period was tame by comparison though Sociedad’s Arkaitz Mariezkurrena brought a save from Jan Oblak and had another shot blocked.

Rodrigo de Paul shot over for Atletico and veteran Antoine Griezmann tried his luck from distance after coming off the bench.

Sorloth was taken off after 74 minutes and his replacement Angel Correa had a chance late on.