Jude Bellingham And Kylian Mbappé Shine As José Mourinho’s Real Madrid Cruise Past Málaga To Stay Perfect

Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé were among the standout performers as Real Madrid swept aside newly promoted Málaga 4–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Bellingham scored and played a key role in another goal, while Mbappé added his own strike as José Mourinho's side maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season with three wins from three.

Real Madrid continued their flawless start to the 2026–27 La Liga campaign with a commanding 4–0 victory over Málaga, as Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé once again underlined their importance to José Mourinho's side.

Madrid produced a ruthless first-half display at the Santiago Bernabéu, scoring three times inside the opening half-hour before Arda Güler added a fourth in stoppage time. The result leaves Real Madrid on nine points from their opening three league matches.

Bellingham Sets The Tone

Bellingham was at the centre of Madrid's dominant start.

The England midfielder opened the scoring in the 19th minute after collecting the ball around 35 yards from goal, driving forward and beating three Málaga defenders before finding the net with a composed finish.

He was involved again shortly afterwards when his effort was parried by Málaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, with the rebound eventually going in off the goalkeeper for an own goal.

Mbappé Adds Another Goal

Mbappé continued his excellent early-season form by scoring Madrid's third goal.

The French forward finished a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, producing a sharp volley into the bottom corner to leave Málaga facing an almost impossible task before half-time.

The goal also extended Mbappé's impressive start after his hat-trick against Real Sociedad in Madrid's previous home fixture.

Güler Completes The Rout

Málaga managed to prevent further damage for much of the second half, but Real Madrid eventually found a fourth.

Güler finished a rapid attacking move in stoppage time after Vinícius Jr. chose to pass rather than shoot, allowing the Turkish midfielder to complete the scoring.

The goal added further gloss to an already convincing performance.

Mourinho Gives Bellingham More Freedom

One of the most interesting aspects of Madrid's impressive start has been Bellingham's tactical role under Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach explained that he did not want the midfielder repeatedly dropping into positions resembling a second left-back. Instead, Madrid have organised themselves to give Bellingham greater freedom to decide when to drop deeper, move forward or attack the penalty area.

That freedom was evident against Málaga as Bellingham repeatedly influenced the match from advanced positions.

Madrid's Stars Finding Their Rhythm

Mourinho has also been pleased with the relationship between Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinícius Jr.

Rather than seeing the three attacking stars as incompatible, the Real Madrid manager believes elite players naturally find ways to combine when they share similar quality and speed of thought. Their collective contribution against Málaga offered another indication that Mourinho's approach is beginning to take shape.

Three Wins From Three

The victory means Mourinho has won all three of his opening La Liga matches since returning to the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid have scored ten goals and conceded only two during that perfect start, giving the club an early advantage at the top of the table.

The challenge now will be maintaining that level as the schedule becomes increasingly demanding.

Málaga Overwhelmed

For Málaga, the evening provided a difficult reminder of the quality required to compete with the biggest clubs in Spain.

The newly promoted side had moments of promise, particularly early in the match, but Real Madrid's individual quality and attacking movement eventually proved overwhelming.

Málaga will now have to put the heavy defeat behind them and focus on the long battle ahead in their return to the top flight.

A Growing Statement From Mourinho's Madrid

Real Madrid's latest performance will increase optimism around Mourinho's second spell at the club.

Bellingham's freedom, Mbappé's goalscoring form and the growing understanding among Madrid's attacking players have provided plenty of encouragement during the opening weeks of the campaign.

There is still a long season ahead, but the early signs suggest Mourinho's Madrid are already developing a formidable rhythm.

Ultimately, Real Madrid's 4–0 victory over Málaga was another emphatic statement of their intentions. Bellingham's outstanding performance, Mbappé's continued goalscoring and Güler's late finish helped Mourinho's side maintain their perfect start, while the manager's tactical decision to give Bellingham greater freedom is already producing impressive results. With three wins from three, Real Madrid have made an early statement that they intend to challenge for major honours on every front this season.