Real Madrid continued their flawless start to the La Liga season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. The win, which keeps Jose Mourinho’s side in top form, was highlighted by a clinical first-half performance that saw the hosts net three times in just over 10 minutes.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a brilliant solo effort, weaving past two defenders before firing a shot through the legs of Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero. Seven minutes later, Bellingham was involved again when his header following a saved Mbappe attempt deflected off the post and into the net off Herrero for an own goal. Kylian Mbappe then extended the lead, volleying home a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to secure his fourth goal of the campaign, placing him at the top of the league’s scoring charts.
Mourinho utilized the match to rotate his squad, handing first starts of the season to Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella. Despite the comfortable lead, Malaga managed to threaten late in the first half, with Rafa Rodriguez striking the post and Chupe finding the side netting. However, Madrid remained disciplined, and Arda Guler eventually added a fourth goal late in the match after being set up by Vinicius Junior.
Reflecting on his role, Bellingham told Real Madrid TV, “I’ve got the freedom to go higher or lower if we need, I’m enjoying myself a lot. It’s an honor to play for this club and in front of these fans and the ovation was very nice.” The midfielder received a warm standing ovation from the crowd when he was substituted during the second half.
For Mourinho, the priority was defensive stability. “The second half was more about managing the game, at a lower tempo,” the manager explained. “Malaga were calmer on the ball, but every time we stepped up the pace, it always felt like we could score one or two more.”
The victory marked Real Madrid’s first clean sheet of the season, a milestone Mourinho emphasized as crucial for the team’s development. “One of our objectives was to keep a clean sheet. Football isn’t just about having fun with the beauty of the goals — it’s also about going home thinking that we’re a solid unit,” he added.
With this result, Madrid maintains their momentum following two previous victories. The focus now shifts to the rest of the league, with champions Barcelona set to face Rayo Vallecano on Monday as they look to keep pace with the early leaders. The report also notes that beating two defenders before drilling through Herrero’s legs, bellingham opened the scoring after 19 minutes with an excellent solo goal. The report also notes that with the ball bouncing in off the unfortunate stopper Herrero, the England international headed the rebound towards goal and defender Carlos Puga desperately tried to clear off the line. The report also notes that when Vinicius teed up substitute Guler to finish from point-blank range, they only managed to get a fourth late on.
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