Mourinho Maintains Perfect Start as Real Madrid Rout Málaga
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Los Blancos secure a 4-0 victory behind standout performances from Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though record signing Yan Diomande remains sidelined.
Real Madrid extended their unbeaten start under manager José Mourinho with a 4-0 victory over Málaga on Sunday, according to Sports Illustrated. The win marks three consecutive victories for the Portuguese boss.
Jude Bellingham led the effort, scoring in the 19th minute and forcing an own goal from Málaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrera seven minutes later. Sports Illustrated reports that Mourinho has granted the 23-year-old creative freedom in his natural No. 10 position, a shift from previous managers who used him in various roles. Bellingham has been involved in five of the team's 10 goals this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold also made an impact in his first start of the season, providing a cross for Kylian Mbappé's volley to make the score 3-0. Sports Illustrated notes that Alexander-Arnold, a blockbuster summer acquisition, had previously been overlooked in favor of Denzel Dumfries. The England international created three chances during the match, while Vinícius Júnior assisted Arda Güler's 92nd-minute goal and created four chances.
Despite the dominant performance, record-breaking signing Yan Diomande remained a peripheral figure. The 19-year-old, signed for $161.6 million (€140 million), has started the first three games on the bench. Sports Illustrated reports that Diomande played only 25 minutes against Málaga, continuing a trend of limited playing time that included six minutes against Real Sociedad and 26 minutes against Espanyol.