Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the LaLiga season with an emphatic 4-0 win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe delivering standout performances.
Jose Mourinho made several changes to his starting XI with a busy period ahead, including a trip to Real Betis next weekend before their Champions League opener against Inter on September 8.
Antonio Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz were among those handed starting opportunities, and Madrid quickly established a commanding 3-0 advantage within the opening half-hour.
Bellingham continued his remarkable form by opening the scoring in the 19th minute with a brilliant solo effort. The midfielder weaved past Rafita and Angel Recio before calmly directing his shot beyond goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero.
Madrid doubled their lead just six minutes later. Bellingham reacted quickest to head in the rebound after Herrero had saved Mbappe’s effort, although the ball eventually crossed the line after coming off the goalkeeper.
Mbappe then added a third on the half-hour mark. Alexander-Arnold demonstrated his quality from the right with a superb whipped cross, which the France international finished comfortably.
Malaga almost pulled one back shortly before half-time after a cleverly worked short corner found Rafa Rodriguez, but his sweeping effort came back off the post.
The visitors continued to struggle after the restart, with Madrid threatening to extend their advantage. Bellingham came close when his powerful low strike beat Herrero but narrowly clipped the outside of the post.
Alexander-Arnold was also denied by Herrero, who produced a sharp point-blank save to keep out the defender’s fierce first-time effort.
Malaga thought they had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 85th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Haitam Abaida’s free-kick appeared to strike Yan Diomande’s arm, but the referee overturned the decision after consulting VAR.
Madrid eventually completed the rout in stoppage time. Arda Guler was involved from the beginning to the end of a slick attacking move, playing in Vinicius Junior before collecting the return pass and finishing from close range.
Mourinho’s men cruise as Alexander-Arnold makes his mark
Madrid have enjoyed an outstanding opening to the campaign under Mourinho, with the manager clearly determined to see his team make a statement every time they take the field.
They delivered another convincing performance at the Bernabeu while maintaining their impressive record against newly promoted Malaga. Los Blancos are now unbeaten in their last 12 LaLiga meetings with La Manquita (W10 D2), with their previous defeat coming in a 3-2 loss in December 2012, which remains their only league defeat against the club.
Sunday’s result also marked the 24th occasion in Madrid’s history that they have won their first three league games of a season. It is, however, the first time they have achieved the feat in successive campaigns, having also opened last season with three victories under Xabi Alonso.
Alexander-Arnold’s display will have been another major positive for Mourinho. The right-back attempted 96 passes, the highest total recorded by a Madrid player in a LaLiga match this season.
He is also the first Los Blancos player to attempt 80 or more passes in a league fixture during the current campaign.
For Malaga, the defeat highlights their early-season struggles. They have failed to score in two of their three matches so far, more than any other team in LaLiga.
Juan Francisco Funes’ team have also now gone seven league matches without a victory. Their previous longer winless run lasted 14 games between December 2017 and March 2018.
