Real Madrid kept their perfect start to the La Liga season intact with a comfortable 4-0 win over newly promoted Malaga on Sunday night. Jude Bellingham scored one and set up another, while Kylian Mbappe added his fourth goal of the campaign in a match that was effectively decided before halftime.
Background: A Perfect Start Under Mourinho
This was Real Madrid’s third league game of the 2026/27 season, and their third win, taking them to nine points and two clear of both Atletico Madrid and Alaves at the top of the table. Jose Mourinho, back in charge at the Bernabeu, had named the same starting eleven for the opening two matches against Espanyol and Real Sociedad, but rotated heavily here.
Five changes went into the side that faced Malaga, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella both getting their first starts of the season. Malaga arrived at the Bernabeu as one of the division’s promoted sides, still finding their feet at this level after coming up from the second tier.
Match Details: How Real Madrid Broke Malaga Down
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a goal that had the crowd on its feet, driving past two defenders before finishing through goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero’s legs. He was involved again seven minutes later, heading a rebound toward goal after Herrero had initially denied Mbappe; Malaga defender Carlos Puga tried desperately to clear it off the line, but the ball cannoned in off Herrero for an own goal.
Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet just before the half-hour mark, finishing off a low cross from Alexander-Arnold with a first-time volley. That strike kept him top of the scoring charts in Spain for the young season. Malaga did have their moments before the break, with Rafa Rodriguez striking the post from a corner and Chupe forcing a save from the side netting, but the damage was already done.
The second half was largely a formality. Bellingham struck the outside of the post as Madrid pushed for a fifth, before substitute Arda Guler wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time to make it 4-0.
Player Ratings: Standout Performers
Bellingham was the clear man of the match, unlucky not to finish with a hat-trick given how involved he was in the buildup to two of the four goals. Mbappe’s volley was the pick of the individual finishes, extending his run of goals to open the season. Alexander-Arnold, handed a rare start, set up the third goal and looked sharp throughout, while Vinicius Junior created several chances from the left without getting on the scoresheet himself, later picking up an assist for Guler’s late goal. Courtois had a quiet afternoon in goal, needed for only a single save all match.
Quotes and Reaction
Coverage of the match pointed to Mourinho’s rotation paying off, with fringe players like Cucurella and Alexander-Arnold making a real case for more regular starts. Bellingham’s early-season form has become the bigger talking point in post-match reaction, and a few pundits are already floating him as a contender for individual honours if he keeps this up.
Impact: Where This Leaves the Table
The win keeps Real Madrid as the only side with a perfect record after three rounds, putting early pressure on both Atletico Madrid and reigning champions Barcelona, who sit further back with a game in hand. For Malaga, the defeat is a reminder of the gap that promoted sides typically face against the league’s biggest clubs, though they showed enough in patches to suggest they won’t be pushovers against sides closer to their own level.
Conclusion: What’s Next
Real Madrid will look to carry this form into their next fixture as they continue chasing an early lead at the top of the table. With squad depth already proving useful this early in the season, Mourinho has options to manage fatigue across a long campaign that includes European competition alongside the league. Barcelona’s result against Rayo Vallecano, along with how Atletico responds, will shape how much breathing room Real Madrid has built up at the top.
FAQs
Did Malaga get promoted to La Liga?
Yes, Malaga returned to La Liga this season after securing promotion, and Sunday’s match at the Bernabeu was part of their first top-flight campaign back among Spain’s elite clubs. It’s a significant step for a club that had spent recent years working its way back up through the lower divisions, and games against sides like Real Madrid are exactly the kind of test that will define how well they cope at this level.
Who is the latest signing for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid’s most recent addition to the first-team squad is winger Yan Diomande, signed from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €140 million. The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international was one of the most sought-after young players in Europe after a standout season in the Bundesliga and a strong World Cup with his national team, and he joined as part of a broader summer rebuild under Jose Mourinho that also brought in Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, and Ibrahima Konate.
