Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu in the third round of La Liga.
The result moved Los Blancos to nine points and temporarily put them at the top of the table. Barcelona can reclaim the lead depending on the result of their match against Rayo Vallecano.
Jude Bellingham led the way with a strong performance. He opened the scoring after a powerful run from outside the box and dribbled past several defenders.
Six minutes later, Bellingham reacted quickly to a rebound from a Kylian Mbappe shot. His header hit the goalkeeper before the ball rolled into the net for Real Madrid’s second goal.
Bellingham nearly completed his brace early in the second half. His effort, however, struck the post.
Mbappe Keeps Scoring
Mbappe remained a constant threat throughout the match.
The French forward pressed aggressively and created several opportunities for Real Madrid. Trent Alexander-Arnold provided the pass for his goal.
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Mbappe finished calmly to make it 3-0. The goal took his league tally to four this season and kept him at the top of the scoring charts.
Vinicius Junior struggled to find his best attacking form but worked hard defensively. He repeatedly covered Cucurella on the left side.
The Brazilian eventually made his mark by setting up Arda Guler for Real Madrid’s fourth goal.
Alexander-Arnold Impresses
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered one of his strongest performances of the campaign on his first league start.
He created Real Madrid’s third goal and looked more confident and aggressive than during much of his debut season.
Cucurella also impressed on his first start. He combined well with Vinicius on the left and created problems for Malaga’s defence.
He also won possession through a strong defensive challenge that lifted the Bernabeu crowd.
Midfield Controls the Game
Eduardo Camavinga produced an intense first-half display. He regularly won possession and helped launch the move that led to Real Madrid’s third goal.
Fede Valverde provided balance and control alongside Camavinga. His performance lacked some of the game’s flashier moments, but he helped Real Madrid control the tempo.
Brahim Diaz had limited involvement in attack but showed strong defensive commitment. He also earned applause after carrying the ball from his own half late in the first half.
Defence Keeps Clean Sheet
Thibaut Courtois enjoyed a relatively quiet evening.
Malaga created two chances in the first half, but both efforts went wide. Courtois dealt comfortably with the only shot that tested him and secured his first clean sheet of the season.
Antonio Rudiger also looked assured on his first league start. Dean Huijsen continued his impressive start to the campaign with another disciplined defensive display.
Real Madrid now turn their attention to the next stage of the La Liga campaign as they look to maintain their early position at the top of the table.
