Steven Naismith’s perfect hat-trick has put him in some rather exalted company.
The Scot became the first player to score three times against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the Premier League, but another unlikely face was the last player to find the net thrice against the Portuguese coach in a league game.
In fact, two players hit hat-tricks against Mourinho’s Real Madrid in his last season in Spain – while Robert Lewandowski’s Champions League quadruple is as unforgettable as it was stunning, the other player to match Naismith’s feat is not someone who immediately comes to mind.
Xabi Prieto currently captains David Moyes’ Real Sociedad, and the one-club midfielder has never hit double figures in a league season, but in January 2013 he capped off a memorable day at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with this beauty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJR7ixV-6k
Amazingly, Prieto still ended up on the losing side despite his treble.
And anyway, all three were with his right foot so he has nothing on Naismith.
