Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu has already given Real Madrid a sharper look, a cleaner structure, and a run of results that few could have expected this quickly. Three league matches into the 2026/27 season, Madrid have taken maximum points, sit first in the table, and have done it without showing any sign of early-season drift.
A Fast Start With Real Authority
The opening stretch has been efficient as well as convincing. Real Madrid began with a 2-1 away win over Espanyol, then followed it with a 4-1 home victory against Real Sociedad. On August 30, they capped the week with a 4-0 demolition of Malaga at the Bernabeu, a result that underlined how quickly Mourinho’s ideas are taking hold.
That third match carried the strongest message. Jude Bellingham scored first in the 19th minute, then forced an own goal seven minutes later to put Madrid firmly in control. Kylian Mbappe added the third, and Arda Guler, set up by Vinicius Junior, completed the scoring. The clean sheet mattered just as much as the goals, because it showed balance rather than just attacking force.
Why This Opening Feels Different
This is not merely a good beginning; it is Mourinho’s best league launch across all his time at Real Madrid. During his first spell, he never opened a season with three straight wins in the league, despite managing the club for three full campaigns. That makes this current start stand out even more sharply.
In 2010/11, Madrid collected seven points from their first three matches. In 2011/12, they managed six. In 2012/13, they slipped to four. This time, they have already reached nine from nine, and the contrast says a great deal about the work being done around the squad. Of course, three games do not decide a season, but a perfect start is still a meaningful signal at a club where pressure arrives immediately.
The Summer Spending Is Already Visible
Madrid’s summer rebuild has clearly been targeted. The club invested close to £200 million to reshape the squad around Mourinho, and the new arrivals have already altered the feel of the team. Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and made his first official start against Malaga, where he gave Madrid control on the left side. Denzel Dumfries brought an extra attacking route from right back after signing from Inter Milan. Ibrahima Konate joined on a free transfer from Liverpool to strengthen the centre of defence, while Bernardo Silva came in on a free from Manchester City to add quality, craft, and experience in midfield.
Those changes have given Madrid a more defined identity. The back line looks sturdier, the full-backs are more adventurous, and the midfield has more passing range. It is the kind of renovation that does not just improve depth; it changes how the whole side functions.
Bellingham Has Been Freed Up
The most obvious tactical shift is the role of Bellingham. Rather than crowding the same spaces as Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, he is now operating in a central pocket just behind them. That adjustment gives Madrid a clearer attacking shape, because Bellingham can link play between the lines while the two forwards stretch defences with pace and movement.
The setup makes sense on every level. Bellingham gets to influence the game in a zone where his vision and timing matter most. Vinicius Junior and Mbappe get room to attack the channels. The team, meanwhile, benefits from a structure that feels more deliberate and less improvised than it did at times last season.
Ambition Without Complacency
Even with the strong start, Mourinho has not sounded interested in celebration for its own sake. His approach remains measured, and that restraint fits the tone of a coach who knows how quickly momentum can change. After a preseason win over Deportivo, he pointed past the early noise and back toward the real work ahead, saying, “You know the five who are at Valdebebas. And next week, the real work begins.”
That line captures the mood well. Madrid have earned optimism, but they have not earned comfort. The club has gone two seasons without a major trophy, so the opening nine points are only the beginning of the test. Still, the signs are encouraging: the squad looks more complete, the stars are being used more intelligently, and the manager appears determined to build something lasting rather than chase a short-lived surge.
Arthur Pendelton creates content focused on casino comparisons, betting platforms, and user-focused gambling guides.