MADRID: Real Madrid continued their perfect start to LaLiga by thrashing newly promoted Malaga 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Jose Mourinho’s side scored three goals in the first 30 minutes before adding a fourth in injury time to secure a comfortable victory.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a stunning solo effort, followed by an own goal from Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero and a powerful volley from Kylian Mbappe before half-time.
Substitute Arda Guler then completed the victory in injury time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The victory saw Real collect nine points from three matches, two points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Alaves.
Barcelona are in fourth place with six points from two matches before hosting Rayo Vallecano tonight.
After fielding the same line-up against Espanyol and Real Sociedad in the opening two league matches, Mourinho made five changes with Marc Cucurella given his first start as a first-team player.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, selected over Denzel Dumfries, almost opened the scoring in the first minute when he curled an effort with the outside of his right foot that went just wide.
Malaga responded in the 15th minute when Joaquin Munoz unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area that almost beat Thibaut Courtois.
However, the visitors’ resilience did not last long.
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a solo run in the middle of the field.
He collected a loose ball near the penalty area line, passed three defenders before firing a low shot past Herrero.
Real doubled their lead seven minutes later through Mbappe.
Bellingham headed the ball back towards goal and when Herrero collided with a teammate while trying to clear the ball, it ended up bouncing into his own net.
Mbappe then made it 3-0 in the 30th minute when he met Alexander-Arnold’s cross with a stunning volley from the centre of the penalty area.
Real slowed down after the break, but Bellingham almost scored his second goal in the 55th minute when his shot from inside the penalty area hit the post.
The second half then proceeded without much threat until Guler, who had just been brought on, sparked and completed an interesting move.
He first passed the ball to Vinicius Jr before finishing the Brazilian’s pass back to complete Real’s big win.
Real Madrid return to action on Friday when they travel to Seville to face Real Betis in LaLiga action, before starting their Champions League campaign a few days later by hosting Inter Milan.