Real Madrid thrash Málaga 4–0 as Bellingham starts the show and Güler finishes it

Real Madrid needed only half an hour to remove any realistic hope of a Málaga upset. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a superb individual goal, Alfonso Herrero put the ball into his own net and Kylian Mbappé added the third. Substitute Arda Güler completed the 4–0 victory in stoppage time.

Málaga did not arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu simply to place every player behind the ball. The visitors attempted to attack when space appeared, with Joaquín Muñoz sending an effort narrowly wide in the 16th minute.

Three minutes later, the hosts took control. Bellingham collected the ball in midfield, carried it past several opponents and finished beyond Herrero. Madrid did not need to construct an elaborate move because the Englishman transported the ball from its beginning to its conclusion by himself.

The second goal arrived in the 26th minute. Herrero initially denied Mbappé before Málaga’s defenders blocked Bellingham’s header. The ball eventually rebounded off the goalkeeper and crossed the line, with the goal recorded as an own goal.

Madrid struck again four minutes later. Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered from the right and Mbappé applied the finish. It was the Frenchman’s fourth goal across his last two league appearances, following his hat-trick against Real Sociedad.

The 3–0 scoreline did not mean Málaga created nothing. Rafa Rodríguez hit the post shortly before half-time, while David Larrubia forced Thibaut Courtois into a save after the interval. The Belgian responded when required and Madrid recorded their first LaLiga clean sheet of the season.

Mourinho’s side also had chances to extend the lead earlier. Bellingham struck the woodwork and Herrero stopped another Mbappé header, but the intensity gradually dropped. With a three-goal advantage, Madrid no longer needed chaos. Control was enough.

The match also allowed Mourinho to continue introducing different players. Antonio Rüdiger and Marc Cucurella both started, while Yan Diomandé, Bernardo Silva and Güler received minutes during the second half.

Güler replaced Bellingham in the 87th minute and quickly made his contribution. The Turkish international scored in the first minute of stoppage time to complete the rout. Bellingham opened the evening with a solo exhibition; his replacement supplied the final touch.

Madrid have now started the league season with three wins, nine points and a 10–2 goal difference. A difficult victory over Espanyol was followed by four goals against Real Sociedad and another four against Málaga.

There are still details for Mourinho to correct, particularly the periods in which his team allows opponents to approach Courtois’ penalty area. The larger picture is much clearer: Madrid have won every league match, are averaging more than three goals per game and already appear to be establishing a hierarchy in attack.

Real Madrid: Courtois — Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Cucurella — Valverde, Camavinga — Brahim Díaz, Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior — Mbappé.

Goals: Bellingham 19’, Alfonso Herrero 26’ (own goal), Mbappé 30’, Güler 90+1’.