Real Madrid opened a LaLiga campaign with three successive wins for the fifth time in six seasons

2026/2027 La Liga

4-0

Match Report

Real Madrid continued their winning start to the season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe playing starring roles. 

Jose Mourinho named a rotated starting line-up ahead of a demanding schedule that will see Los Blancos travel to face Real Betis next weekend before beginning their Champions League campaign at home to Inter on September 8. 

Antonio Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz were among those given a chance to impress, and Madrid raced away to a 3-0 lead inside 30 minutes. 

Bellingham continued his spectacular start to the season, breaking the deadlock after 19 minutes with a superb individual goal, dancing around Rafita and Angel Recio before guiding a delicate shot beyond the reach of Alfonso Herrero. 

It did not take long for Madrid to double their advantage, as Bellingham was on hand to nod home the rebound off Mbappe’s saved shot six minutes later, though the ball eventually rolled over the line off Herrero. 

Mbappe got on the scoresheet himself on the half-hour mark, as Alexander-Arnold showcased some of his brilliant passing range with a whipped delivery that the Frenchman gladly tucked home. 

Malaga created an opening of their own just before the break as a short corner routine was played into Rafa Rodriguez, whose sweeping shot struck the base of the post. 

But there proved to be little respite for the visitors after the break, as Los Blancos went close to adding a fourth through Bellingham, whose drilled effort beat Herrero but clipped the outside of the post. 

Alexander-Arnold continued to impress, drawing a point-blank reflex save from Herrero with a stinging first-time shot. 

Malaga were given hope of a late consolation in the 85th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Haitam Abaida's free-kick was turned onto Yan Diomande's arm, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review. 

Madrid added further gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time, as Arda Guler started and finished a fine move, finding Vinicius Junior before receiving the return pass and poking home from close range. 

ANOTHER WIN AT HOME @emirates pic.twitter.com/EILIonPSNu

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 30, 2026

Mourinho's men run riot and Trent takes his chance

Madrid have made a blistering start to the season under Mourinho, and there is little doubt the Special One is keen for his side to make a statement in every match. 

And they did just that at the Bernabeu, extending their formidable record over newly promoted Malaga. Los Blancos are now unbeaten in their last 12 LaLiga matches against La Manquita (W10 D2), dating back to a 3-2 defeat in December 2012, which remains their only league loss against them. 

Sunday's win also means Madrid have won their opening three league matches of a season for the 24th time in their history. However, this is the first time they have done so in consecutive campaigns, having also won their first three under Xabi Alonso last season. 

Along with the victory, one of the biggest positives for Mourinho will have been Alexander-Arnold's performance. 

The right-back attempted 96 passes, the most by a Madrid player in a LaLiga match so far this season. In fact, he is also the first Los Blancos player to attempt at least 80 passes in a league game this term. 

Malaga, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board, having failed to score in two of their three matches this season – more often than any other side in LaLiga. 

Juan Francisco Funes' side have now failed to win any of their last seven league matches, with their last longer such run stretching from December 2017 to March 2018 (14 matches). 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Before the match, both sides observed a moment of silence for the flooding in Nepal and Tibet, China

11' VAR checked and decided no handball by Málaga



16' Joaquín Muñoz curled his shot wide

19' Bellingham goes on a solo run and scores from a tight angle! Real Madrid 1-0 Malaga



25' Bellingham's header forced an own goal from the goalkeeper! Real Madrid 2-0 Malaga


30' Mbappé arrives at the far post to tap in! Real Madrid 3-0 Malaga



42' Rafa Rodríguez hits the woodwork

43' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Malaga

55' Bellingham hits the woodwork


56' Arnold's tight-angle shot is saved by the goalkeeper


59' Mbappé gets hit in the face by the goalkeeper

63' Juan Cruz fires a long-range shot over the bar

64' Diomande comes on for Díaz

73' Camavinga doesn't see the man behind him and gets dispossessed

85' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Malaga

91' GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Malaga (Arda Güler)

95' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Malaga

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Rudiger, Cucurella, Alexander-Arnold, Mbappe, Valverde, Brahim, Vinicius, Camavinga, Bellingham, Dean Huijsen

Subs: Bernardo Silva, Dumfries, Konate, Lunin, Güler, Álvaro Carreras, Mario Rivas, Jorge Cestero, Carlos Espí, Alexis Ciria, Javi Navarro, Yan Diomande

Malaga XI: Alfonso Herrero, Galilea, Joaquín Muñoz, Carlos Puga, David Larrubia, Carlos Dotor, Ángel Recio, Rafa Rodríguez, Chupe, Izan Merino, Rafita Garrido

Subs: Eneko Jauregi, Pablo Martínez, Juan Cruz, Álex Pastor, Ramón Enríquez, Haitam Abaida, Julen Lobete, José Salinas, Carlos López, Joseph Otu, Juani