Real Madrid’s stars shine as Malaga are swept aside at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid moved provisionally to the top of La Liga with a convincing 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The result gives the Spanish giants nine points from their opening three matches, although they must wait for the outcome of Barcelona’s meeting with Rayo Vallecano before their position is confirmed.

Jude Bellingham was central to the victory, scoring twice as Real Madrid established control. Kylian Mbappe added a third after the interval, while Arda Guler completed the scoring following a late assist from Vinicius Junior.

The performance was also assessed by Spanish newspaper AS, with several of Real Madrid’s players earning praise for their displays.

Thibaut Courtois had little to do in the first half despite Malaga reaching the Real Madrid penalty area twice. Both attempts were sent wide, while the goalkeeper dealt confidently with the only shot he had to save. He also kept his first clean sheet of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold responded strongly in his first start of the campaign, with his competition with Denzel Dumfries appearing to sharpen his performance. He was one of Real Madrid’s outstanding players before the break and produced the match’s first opportunity, narrowly missing with a difficult effort.

The England defender later supplied the pass for Mbappe’s goal and looked stronger and more energetic than he had during his debut season.

Antonio Rudiger also made his first league start and displayed composure and physical strength. Malaga offered Real Madrid’s defence relatively few serious tests, with Rudiger and Dean Huijsen maintaining control at the back. Huijsen continued the form he had shown at the start of the league season, remaining focused throughout and showing greater authority in challenges.

Marc Cucurella’s first start had been eagerly anticipated by the home supporters, and he did not disappoint. Operating on the left alongside Vinicius Junior, he helped create a dangerous partnership and demonstrated his defensive qualities by winning the ball with determination and aggression. His enthusiasm also lifted the Bernabeu crowd.

Eduardo Camavinga produced an excellent first half, combining intensity with strong ball recovery. His pass through Malaga’s defensive lines began the move for Real Madrid’s third goal. There were moments when he appeared hesitant, prompting some murmurs from the stands, but overall he delivered a good midfield performance.

Federico Valverde provided control and balance. It was not the most flamboyant display from the Uruguay international, but he managed the tempo effectively and formed a dependable partnership with Camavinga.

Brahim Diaz was not heavily involved in possession, although he showed the same defensive commitment as Vinicius Junior. Just before half-time, he carried the ball from inside his own half on a solo run that earned applause from the Bernabeu crowd.

Bellingham looked every inch a leader for Real Madrid and appeared to be in outstanding physical condition. He opened the scoring with a powerful run from outside the penalty area, dribbling past several opponents before finding the net.

Six minutes later, he reacted first after the Malaga goalkeeper had parried Mbappe’s shot. Bellingham attempted to head the loose ball into the goal; a defender cleared it, but the ball rebounded off the goalkeeper and ended up in the net to make it 2-0.

He almost completed his hat-trick at the start of the second half, but his shot struck the post.

Vinicius Junior was the least influential of Real Madrid’s attacking players during the opening period, although he contributed significantly without the ball and repeatedly covered behind Cucurella. He continued to try to make an impact after the break, but his final pass was often inaccurate. Persistence eventually paid off when he set up Guler for the fourth goal.

Mbappe was lively in the press and, once he reached top speed, proved almost impossible to contain. He created nearly all of Real Madrid’s attacking danger apart from Bellingham’s opportunities, before scoring with the composure associated with the game’s elite forwards after Alexander-Arnold’s precise pass. The goal took his league tally to four for the season and kept him at the top of the scoring chart.

Diomande showed flashes of his ability and came close to creating another chance for Mbappe late on. Bernardo Silva helped preserve Real Madrid’s control when carrying the ball out from defence, while Guler marked his appearance with the final goal of the night.