Madrid surpasses Malacca... with ease

Madrid - AFP - Real Madrid, runners-up in last season’s title race, showcased their attacking prowess once again, defeating visitors Malaga 4-0 on Sunday in the third round of the Spanish La Liga.

After a difficult start in which they secured a late 2-1 win against Espanyol, the team managed by Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho showed their teeth in their previous match, defeating visitors Real Sociedad 4-1.

Following French star Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick in the previous match and Brazilian Vinicius Junior’s contribution to the goals, Englishman Jude Bellingham once again proved his worth after scoring in the opening match. He opened the scoring against Malaga in the 19th minute, before the tally was increased with an own goal by goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero (26th minute) and another by Mbappe (30th minute), before substitute Turkish player Arda Guler sealed the victory in the 91st minute.

The royal club moved to the top of the league table with nine points, ahead of facing title holders Barcelona (six points) and their visitors Rayo Vallecano on Monday, in the final matchday of the round.

Bellingham thought he had scored the second goal when he headed the ball toward the net, but the goal was credited to goalkeeper Herrero, who deflected the ball from defender Carlos Bouga’s foot during an attempt to clear it off the goal line (26th minute).

The home side’s efforts dropped significantly in the second half, prompting Mourinho to bring in record signing Ivorian Youssouf Fofana (65th minute), followed by Portuguese player Bernardo Silva (77th minute) and Guler (87th minute), who managed to add the fourth goal just four minutes after coming on.

Guler achieved this after exchanging passes with Vinicius, who delivered a cross to the Turk, who easily finished it into the net (90+1).

Barcelona are aiming to regain the top spot when they host Rayo Vallecano at the end of the round today in a match described by Catalan media as “uncertain.”

The “Mundo Deportivo” newspaper noted that Barcelona faces a significant challenge against Rayo Vallecano, as the “Blaugrana” struggled greatly against the opposing team last season. The first leg at Rayo’s ground ended in a 1-1 draw, while Barcelona narrowly won 1-0 at the Camp Nou in the second half of the season.

The newspaper praised Barcelona’s start to this season, noting that the Catalan team has scored seven goals: five against Elche and two against Athletic Bilbao last Thursday, while conceding none.

Mundo added that despite Rayo Vallecano’s poor start, having failed to win any matches so far this season with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Alaves and a 2-1 loss to Sevilla, coach Pina San Jose’s men proved last season that they can compete with Barcelona.