A flawless opening
José Mourinho’s second spell at Real Madrid has begun with immediate authority. Three league games, three wins, and a clean sheet in the latest outing have given the club a perfect opening to the 2026/27 La Liga season.
The latest result was the most convincing yet, with Real Madrid beating Málaga 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu on August 30. Jude Bellingham scored first, forced an own goal soon after, Kylian Mbappé added another, and Arda Güler finished the job late on.
That kind of start matters at a club where expectations are always extreme. A clean sweep through the first three matches has put Madrid at the top of the table and immediately given Mourinho the kind of momentum he wanted after returning to the dugout.
Why this run stands out
The striking part is not just the points total, but the comparison with Mourinho’s first Madrid stint. During his original three seasons in charge, he never opened a league campaign with three straight wins. His best early run then was seven points from the first three matches, and he finished another opening stretch on six or four points.
This time, the numbers are cleaner and sharper: nine points from nine. It is early, of course, but it is still the strongest league start Mourinho has ever produced with Real Madrid.
The club also entered the season with a clear sense of urgency after two years without a major trophy, so a strong opening has done more than lift morale. It has offered proof that the reset is taking shape quickly.
The squad has been reshaped around him
Madrid did not ask Mourinho to work with the same old squad. The summer rebuild brought in several new faces, with Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, and Bernardo Silva all arriving as part of a major refresh.
Cucurella, signed from Chelsea, made his first start against Málaga and gave Madrid stability on the left side. Dumfries adds drive and width at right back, Konaté gives the defence more muscle, and Silva offers control and quality in midfield.
That recruitment points to a simple idea: give Mourinho players who can handle his demands without slowing the team down. The club has backed him with a serious investment, and the first three matches suggest the squad is beginning to respond.
Bellingham has more room to breathe
One of the clearest tactical changes is the way Jude Bellingham is being used. Rather than asking him to crowd the same zones as Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé, Mourinho has placed him in a deeper pocket, just behind the forwards.
That gives Madrid a more natural attacking shape. Bellingham can arrive late, link play, and attack the box from central areas, while the front line stretches defences and creates space for him to exploit.
The result has been a more balanced attacking structure, with individual quality now supported by better spacing and clearer roles.
Mourinho is not celebrating too early
Even with the perfect start, Mourinho is keeping the tone measured. He has already made it clear that the real work has only just begun, which fits the approach of a coach who rarely lets early success turn into complacency.
For now, the results are exactly what Madrid needed. They are also a reminder that Mourinho’s return is not about nostalgia. It is about building a team that looks sharper, tougher, and more complete than the one that finished last season.
Three matches do not decide a season, but they can change the mood around one. Right now, Real Madrid look like a team that has found its edge again.
Arthur Pendelton creates content focused on casino comparisons, betting platforms, and user-focused gambling guides.