Real Madrid Host Malaga at the Bernabeu in La Liga

The Fixture at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid played newly promoted Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in their third match of the 2026/27 season of La Liga, Spain's top football division.

Yahoo Sports reports that Jose Mourinho, back in charge of the club, had guided the team to wins over RCD Espanyol and Real Sociedad in the opening two rounds. According to the same report, Real Madrid were one of only three clubs with a perfect record at that stage, alongside FC Barcelona and Sevilla.

In the win over Real Sociedad, Yahoo Sports says Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick, Vinicius Junior also scored, and Jude Bellingham stood out.

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Chances at Both Ends

The live commentary published by Marca on 30 August 2026 records a series of near misses for the home side. Bellingham struck the left post with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, assisted by Vinicius Junior.

Marca's feed also logs a Mbappe header from very close range saved in the top left corner by Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, set up by Bellingham. Trent Alexander-Arnold had a right-footed effort from the right side of the box saved by Herrero, assisted by Vinicius Junior.

Malaga created chances of their own. David Larrubia forced a save from Thibaut Courtois with a left-footed shot from outside the box, while Chupe, Haitam Abaida and Juan Cruz all had attempts blocked or off target.

The extract of Marca's commentary available here does not record any goals, and the final score is not given in the sources.

Team News and Substitutions

Yahoo Sports reports that Mourinho was without seven players: Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Aurelien Tchouameni.

The same publication says Mourinho confirmed that new signing Marc Cucurella would start, replacing Alvaro Carreras, who had been taken off at half-time in the previous game. It also noted that the match carried personal weight for defender Dean Huijsen, who came up against his boyhood club.

Yahoo Sports had predicted Bernardo Silva would start in midfield alongside captain Federico Valverde. Marca's live feed instead shows Bernardo Silva coming on as a substitute for Valverde during the game.

Marca also records Arda Guler replacing Bellingham and Yan Diomande replacing Brahim Diaz, while Malaga sent on Pablo Martinez for Rafa Rodriguez.