A start that feels different
Real Madrid have opened the 2026/27 La Liga season with a level of control that has quickly changed the mood around the club. Three matches have brought three wins, nine points, and a place at the top of the standings, with the latest result arriving as a 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. The most striking part is not only the unbeaten record, but the fact that the team has not conceded a goal in its most recent outing and has looked increasingly settled with every passing week.
Jose Mourinho returned to the club in June after more than a decade away, arriving with the same reputation for demanding standards that always followed him in Madrid. The early evidence suggests that the message is landing. This is not yet a finished project, but it already looks like a side with sharper habits, clearer roles, and a stronger sense of purpose than the one he inherited.
Why the first three matches matter
The opening run has been built on consistency rather than spectacle alone. Real Madrid began with a narrow 2-1 away win over Espanyol, followed that with a convincing 4-1 home success against Real Sociedad, and then finished the week by brushing aside Malaga in emphatic fashion. Each result added a different layer to the picture: resilience on the road, authority at home, and then full command when the team returned to the Bernabeu.
Against Malaga, the attacking rhythm stood out immediately. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute, then forced an own goal seven minutes later to give Madrid a comfortable cushion. Kylian Mbappe added the third, and Arda Guler completed the scoring after being set up by Vinicius Junior. The result was not just a one-off burst of quality; it looked like a team beginning to understand where its danger comes from and how quickly it can overwhelm opponents once the first goal arrives.
There is still a long season ahead, of course, and three fixtures cannot define an entire campaign. Even so, a clean sweep to begin the league schedule matters at a club where patience is always short and expectations remain enormous. It also helps that the performances have been stable rather than frantic, which is often a better sign this early in the year.
How the squad has been reshaped
The stronger start is tied closely to the work done in the transfer market. Real Madrid spent close to £200 million overhauling the squad around Mourinho, and the new arrivals appear to have been chosen with precision rather than simply brought in for depth. Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and made his first official start against Malaga, where he gave Madrid balance on the left side. Denzel Dumfries, signed from Inter Milan, offers a far more aggressive option on the right. Ibrahima Konate came in on a free transfer from Liverpool to tighten the centre of defence, while Bernardo Silva also joined on a free from Manchester City to add experience and craft in midfield.
That kind of recruitment suggests a plan rather than a patch-up job. The squad now looks better equipped to handle transitions, better protected at the back, and more varied in the final third. Just as importantly, the additions seem to suit the coach’s style, which tends to reward discipline, structure, and decisive movement in key moments.
Bellingham’s new role is the clearest sign
One of the most noticeable changes has been Jude Bellingham’s position. Rather than drifting into crowded attacking lanes, he is now operating in the space behind Vinicius Junior and Mbappe. That adjustment matters because it places Bellingham where he can receive between the lines, connect attacks, and arrive in dangerous areas without constantly competing for the same space as the two forwards ahead of him.
The effect is simple but powerful. Vinicius Junior and Mbappe can stretch defences vertically, while Bellingham arrives from a slightly deeper pocket to exploit the gaps they create. The shape also eases pressure on the back line because the team is better balanced when possession breaks down. It is the kind of tactical change that can make talented players look even better, and early signs suggest Madrid are already benefiting from it.
Mourinho has always been at his best when he can turn talented individuals into a more coherent unit. This Madrid side is beginning to show that same blend of control and menace. The results are perfect so far, but the deeper story is that the team finally looks organised enough to keep building instead of merely reacting.
