Madrid’s New Habit: Fast Starts, Big Control

A Perfect Opening That Signals More Than Form

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has opened with a clean, forceful message: this team is playing with authority again. Three league matches into the 2026/27 season, Madrid have taken nine points from nine and sit at the top of La Liga, a start Mourinho never managed during his first spell in charge.

The results are only part of the story. The sharper edge has shown up in the way Madrid are controlling games from the outset, turning early pressure into comfortable wins and making the Bernabeu feel like a place where opponents are expected to fold.

• Espanyol were beaten 2-1 away in the opener
• Real Sociedad were swept aside 4-1 at home
• Malaga were shut out 4-0 in Madrid’s most complete display so far

The Malaga Match Looked Like a Statement

The weekend win over Malaga gave the clearest picture yet of what this version of Real Madrid can be. Jude Bellingham scored first in the 19th minute, then helped force an own goal seven minutes later to give Madrid total control before the break.

Kylian Mbappe added the third goal, and Arda Guler finished the job after being set up by Vinicius Junior. The final scoreline was emphatic, but the wider point was even stronger: Madrid looked balanced, confident, and difficult to unsettle.

Keeping a clean sheet made the performance stand out even more. This was not just another routine home win. It was the kind of night that suggests Mourinho already has the team moving in the direction he wants.

Why This Start Matters for Mourinho

The most striking detail is historical. During Mourinho’s previous three seasons at the club, Real Madrid never began a league campaign with three straight wins. This time, the opening sequence is better than anything he produced in his first run.

• 2010/11: 7 points from 9
• 2011/12: 6 points from 9
• 2012/13: 4 points from 9
• 2026/27: 9 points from 9

That contrast matters because it frames the current moment as more than a good week. Even with only three matches played, the early signs point to a side that is cleaner in possession, more ruthless in attack, and steadier without the ball.

Summer Spending Changed the Shape of the Team

Madrid’s summer rebuild was not subtle. The club invested heavily to give Mourinho a squad that matches his demands, with close to £200 million spent across several key arrivals.

• Marc Cucurella came from Chelsea for about £52 million and immediately gave the left side more control
• Denzel Dumfries arrived from Inter Milan to provide pace and thrust on the right
• Ibrahima Konate joined on a free transfer from Liverpool to strengthen the back line
• Bernardo Silva signed on a free from Manchester City and added proven quality in midfield

Each signing appears tied to a clear problem Madrid wanted solved. The result is a squad that looks more functional, more direct, and better suited to Mourinho’s preferred tempo.

Bellingham Has Been Given a Better Role

One of the clearest tactical changes is Jude Bellingham’s position. Rather than crowding the same spaces as Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, he is now operating in a central pocket just behind them.

That shift gives Madrid a better attacking rhythm. Bellingham can connect the play, the forwards can attack space earlier, and the team avoids wasting its best players by asking them to occupy the same channels. It is a simple adjustment, but it has made Madrid look more dangerous almost immediately.

Mourinho Still Sounds Like a Coach Building, Not Celebrating

Even with the perfect start, Mourinho has not spoken like someone ready to declare success. After a preseason win over Deportivo, he kept the focus firmly on work still to come, saying, “You know the five who are at Valdebebas. And next week, the real work begins.”

That mindset fits the man as much as the moment. Real Madrid’s opening three wins are encouraging, but they are also only the beginning. The club has gone two seasons without a major trophy, and Mourinho knows that good starts matter most when they lead somewhere larger.

For now, Madrid look organised, aggressive, and clear in purpose. If that continues, this return could become much more than a nostalgic reunion. It could become the start of a very different Real Madrid story.