In the third jornada of La Liga 2026/2027, Real Madrid showcased an impressive performance, conquering Malaga with a resounding 4-0 victory at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu. With goals coming from Jude Bellingham, a self-inflicted error by Alfonso Herrero, Kylian Mbappe, and Arda Guler, the triumph solidifies Madrid’s position at the top of the league table, amassing nine points from three matches. In contrast, Malaga finds themselves struggling at 19th place, with just one point.
First Half Highlights
The match began with a strong display from the home side, as Real Madrid quickly put pressure on Malaga’s defense. Just seconds into the match, Alexander-Arnold nearly found the net, but his shot sailed over the bar. A few moments later, Antonio Rudiger came close with a header that veered off target. Despite being under pressure, Malaga attempted to respond with a few shots on Madrid’s goal, yet none were successful.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Jude Bellingham capitalized on a loose ball from Kylian Mbappe, dribbled into the penalty area, and executed a sublime low shot, giving Real Madrid a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, the advantage was doubled when Malaga’s goalkeeper Herrero misjudged a header from Bellingham, inadvertently scoring an own goal that made it 2-0. By the 30-minute mark, Kylian Mbappe sealed the third goal with a volley from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, placing Real Madrid firmly in control at 3-0.
Despite facing a daunting three-goal deficit, Malaga fought valiantly, and Rodriguez nearly put them on the scoresheet with a close-range effort that struck the post just before halftime, leaving the score at 3-0.
Second Half Developments
Entering the second half, Malaga made a substitution, bringing in Martinez for Rodriguez. The relentless pressure from Real Madrid continued as Mbappe forced Herrero into a close-range save within three minutes of the restart. Jude Bellingham again came close to extending the lead in the 55th minute, but his shot hit the woodwork.
Even as Madrid maintained their offensive, Malaga managed sporadic counterattacks. In the 85th minute, they appealed for a penalty due to a potential handsball by Diomande, but after VAR review, the decision was confirmed against them as Diomande’s hands were deemed to be in a natural position.
The final act of the match unfolded in injury time when Vinicius Junior set up Arda Guler, who calmly slotted home the fourth goal, wrapping up the match at 4-0 in favor of Real Madrid. The victory not only propelled Madrid to the top but also underscored their dominance in the early stage of the season.
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