Real Madrid go top of La Liga after thrashing Malaga 4-0

Real Madrid took control from the opening minutes and ended the night at the top of the La Liga standings with a 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Trent Alexander-Arnold nearly scored before the first minute had passed, and Antonio Rudiger also threatened with a header. Madrid’s pressure produced the opening goal in the 19th minute, when Jude Bellingham won the ball after it came loose from Kylian Mbappe and finished with a low shot.

Madrid doubled the lead soon afterward when Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero tried to clear Bellingham’s header, only for the ball to deflect off him and enter his own goal. Alexander-Arnold then crossed from the right, allowing Mbappe to score with a volley in the 30th minute.

Malaga came close to reducing the deficit before halftime, but Rodriguez’s close-range effort struck the post. Madrid continued to control the second half, with Bellingham hitting the post and Herrero denying Alexander-Arnold.

Malaga appealed for a penalty in the 85th minute after the ball struck Diomande’s hand. VAR reviewed the incident, but the referee decided against awarding a penalty, judging the hand position natural. Madrid completed the scoring in stoppage time when Vinicius Junior cut the ball back from the left for Arda Guler to finish. The result gave Madrid nine points from three games, while Malaga stayed on one point and in 19th place.