José Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu has made an immediate impression, with Real Madrid beginning the 2026/27 La Liga season at full pace. Three matches in, they have three wins, nine points, and a growing sense that this version of the club already has a sharper edge.
A Perfect Opening Run
Real Madrid’s start has been as efficient as it has been convincing. They opened with a 2-1 away win against Espanyol, followed it with a 4-1 home victory over Real Sociedad, and then completed the week with a 4-0 demolition of Málaga on 30 August. The latest result was especially dominant, with Madrid keeping a clean sheet and controlling the game from the opening stages.
- Jude Bellingham scored first in the 19th minute
- Bellingham then forced an own goal seven minutes later
- Kylian Mbappé added a third before the break
- Arda Güler, set up by Vinícius Júnior, finished the scoring late on
That is the kind of start that sends a clear message to the rest of the league. Madrid have not merely collected points; they have done it with pace, control, and growing confidence.
Why This Start Stands Out
The significance of the run is not just in the present table position. Mourinho did not manage three straight league wins to start a season during his first spell at Real Madrid, even across three full campaigns. In that earlier run, the club’s opening stretches were inconsistent, and the team never quite produced this level of early momentum.
- 2010/11: 2 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses
- 2011/12: 2 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss
- 2012/13: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss
- 2026/27: 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
This makes the current opening spell Mourinho’s strongest start at Madrid across both of his eras at the club. Three matches still represents a small sample, but the difference in rhythm is obvious. The side looks more settled, more direct, and more balanced between attack and defence.
How The Squad Has Changed
The summer rebuild has clearly mattered. Real Madrid invested heavily to reshape the squad around Mourinho, and the new arrivals appear to have been chosen with specific jobs in mind rather than for depth alone.
- Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and made his first official start against Málaga, where he offered steady control on the left side
- Denzel Dumfries joined from Inter Milan and gives the side a more aggressive option at right back
- Ibrahima Konaté came in on a free transfer from Liverpool to strengthen the centre of defence
- Bernardo Silva signed on a free transfer from Manchester City, adding experience, intelligence, and proven winning habits in midfield
Those additions have changed the feel of the team. Rather than relying only on individual brilliance, Madrid now look built to support a clearer structure.
Bellingham’s New Role Brings More Balance
One of the clearest tactical shifts is Jude Bellingham’s position. Instead of crowding the same spaces as Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé, he is operating in a pocket just behind them. That gives Madrid a better attacking shape: Bellingham can link play centrally, the forwards can run beyond the defence, and the back line has more cover behind the ball.
The result is a side that looks less cramped in attack and more organised in transition. When the pieces fit this well, the team can become harder to defend and harder to break down at the same time.
Mourinho Keeps The Focus Forward
Even with the perfect start, Mourinho is refusing to get carried away. After a pre-season win over Deportivo, he stressed that the real work was still ahead, saying: “You know the five who are at Valdebebas. And next week, the real work begins.”
That mindset suits him. Early success buys time and confidence, but it does not guarantee anything in a club environment as demanding as Madrid’s. The deeper point is that this opening run suggests more than a hot streak. It suggests a coach and squad that are already moving in the same direction, with enough quality to make the early signs matter.
