Real Madrid effortlessly defeated Malaga 4-0, ensuring their flawless beginning to the season
Real Madrid continued their flawless beginning to the LaLiga season with a convincing 4-0 victory at home against promoted Malaga on Sunday, netting three goals within the first 30 minutes before securing a late fourth.
Jude Bellingham’s impressive solo opener, an own goal by Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, and a precise volley from Kylian Mbappe decisively determined the match before halftime, with substitute Arda Guler sealing the victory in added time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The victory propelled Real to nine points after three matches, placing them two points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Alaves. Barcelona, currently in fourth place with six points and a game in hand, will host Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
After naming the same starting side against Espanyol and Real Sociedad in Real’s opening two league matches, Mourinho made five changes, with Marc Cucurella receiving his first start for the club.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who began the match in place of Denzel Dumfries, nearly scored within the first minute, curling a shot with the outside of his right foot just past the far post.
Malaga struck in the 15th minute when Joaquin Munoz fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the box, just missing Thibaut Courtois’s top corner. However, the visitors’ defense soon faltered.
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a remarkable burst through the middle, collecting a loose ball near the edge of the area, gliding past three defenders, and firing low beneath Herrero.
Real extended their advantage seven minutes later when Herrero could only deflect Mbappe’s shot. Bellingham directed the rebound back toward the goal, and as Herrero and a teammate collided in their attempt to clear it, the ball found its way into the net.
Mbappe then scored the third goal in the 30th minute, connecting with Alexander-Arnold’s cross with an excellent volley from the center of the box.
Real eased off after halftime, but Bellingham came close to scoring again in the 55th minute, hitting the post from inside the area.
The second half meandered until Guler, shortly after entering the match, initiated and concluded a smooth sequence, delivering the ball to Vinicius Jr. before tapping in the Brazilian’s return pass to finalize the rout.
Real Madrid will be back in action on Friday with a LaLiga match against Real Betis in Seville, followed by the start of their Champions League campaign at home against Inter Milan a few days later.
