Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu has delivered a sharp early message: Real Madrid look organised, ruthless, and far more secure than they were a few months ago. Three league games into the 2026/27 season, they have taken the full nine points and have not yet shown the kind of wobble that used to haunt them.
A Start That Sets the Tone
Real Madrid’s opening stretch has been steady rather than flashy, but the results have been exactly what Mourinho wanted. The team began with a narrow 2-1 away win over Espanyol, followed that with a convincing 4-1 home victory against Real Sociedad, and then ended the week with a dominant 4-0 performance against Malaga at the Bernabeu.
The Malaga match was especially telling because Madrid controlled it from start to finish and kept a clean sheet. That kind of authority is often more important than a single dramatic moment, because it suggests the side is beginning to trust its shape and its habits.
- Jude Bellingham scored the opener in the 19th minute.
- Bellingham then forced an own goal only seven minutes later.
- Kylian Mbappe added the third goal.
- Arda Guler, with help from Vinicius Junior, completed the scoring.
Three matches, three wins, and one increasingly clear pattern: Madrid are not merely collecting points, they are imposing themselves.
Why This Opening Feels Different
The most striking part of this run is that Mourinho never managed a perfect three-match league start during his first spell in charge of the club. That earlier tenure produced plenty of big nights, but not this kind of opening consistency.
- 2010/11: 2 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses, 7 points
- 2011/12: 2 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss, 6 points
- 2012/13: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, 4 points
- 2026/27: 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 9 points
That contrast matters because it frames the current start as more than a strong week. It is the best opening sequence Mourinho has ever posted at Real Madrid across both of his eras there.
The Squad Has Been Rebuilt Around a Plan
Summer spending changed the look of the side, and the additions were not made for decoration. Real Madrid invested nearly £200 million to reshape the squad around Mourinho’s demands, and the new arrivals have already slotted into specific roles.
- Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and immediately strengthened the left side.
- Denzel Dumfries joined from Inter Milan to add pace and direct running from right back.
- Ibrahima Konate came in on a free transfer from Liverpool to reinforce central defence.
- Bernardo Silva signed on a free transfer from Manchester City, bringing creativity and control in midfield.
That balance gives Madrid something they lacked in spells last season: clearer roles and fewer awkward overlaps between the attacking and defensive lines.
Bellingham’s New Position Changes Everything
The most useful tactical change has been the way Bellingham is being used. Instead of drifting into the same attacking lanes as Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, he is now operating in the space behind them, where he can link play, arrive late, and exploit gaps between the lines.
That adjustment does two things at once. It keeps Madrid’s most dangerous forward players separated enough to stretch opponents, and it gives Bellingham a central hub from which he can influence matches without crowding the front line.
Mourinho’s thinking is easy to see: let the wide and high-speed threats do the stretching, place the midfielder who reads the game best in the pocket behind them, and trust the improved defence to absorb what comes back the other way.
Early Signs, No Celebration Yet
Mourinho has not sounded like a manager eager to enjoy the praise. After a pre-season win over Deportivo, he reminded everyone that the real work still lies ahead and that the squad at Valdebebas is only part of the broader picture.
That restraint fits his style. He has never been interested in treating a promising opening as proof of success, and he knows full well that nine points from nine does not solve a season. It does, however, buy time, confidence, and a stronger platform for what comes next.
For a club that has gone two seasons without a major trophy, this kind of start carries real value. It does not complete the project, but it suggests the project is moving in the right direction and that Mourinho has already begun to give Madrid a recognisable edge again.
