MADRID, March 25 (Reuters) - The Spanish government has acquired a 3% stake in telecoms group Telefonica (TEF.MC) through the state holding company SEPI, Spanish media reported on Monday.

The government said last year it would acquire a stake of up to 10% in a counterbalance to the acquisition of a large stake in the telecoms giant by Saudi Arabia's STC.

(Reporting by Joan Faus)