Podcasts · The Real Deal: A Real Madrid Podcast

Real Madrid 4-0 Malaga Postgame Reaction

30 Aug 2026 · 51 min

Real Madrid keep rolling under José Mourinho with another comfortable La Liga win, and Sid and Jarod break down what’s starting to change.

Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé were at the center of Madrid’s attack again, with Bellingham given far more freedom to crash the box and Mbappé finding dangerous spaces on the right. We look at how Mourinho is getting Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. to coexist without constantly occupying the same areas, and why the attack already feels less dependent on forcing everything through Vinícius on the left.

We also discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first start, his passing and combination play with Brahim Díaz, Marc Cucurella’s aggressive defending at left back, Eduardo Camavinga’s performance in midfield, and the growing competition for places involving Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande and Aurélien Tchouaméni.

There are still questions. Madrid’s out-of-possession structure remains inconsistent, Bellingham is being asked to cover a huge amount of ground, and Málaga provided a much easier test than the teams Mourinho will face in the Champions League and the biggest La Liga matches.

Topics include:

• Jude Bellingham’s attacking freedom under Mourinho • Kylian Mbappé thriving in the right half-space • Vinícius Jr.’s changing role in the Real Madrid attack • Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Díaz on the right • Marc Cucurella’s first start and defensive intensity • Eduardo Camavinga’s strengths and recurring mistakes • Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva and Mourinho’s preferred midfield • Yan Diomande’s route into the starting XI • How Mourinho has changed Real Madrid’s ball movement • Madrid’s remaining counterpressing and defensive issues • Whether La Liga’s overall level is becoming a concern • What tougher games against Real Betis, Inter and Atlético Madrid will tell us

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Timestamps:

00:00 Real Madrid postgame reaction 01:23 Mourinho’s strong start and early-season expectations 03:31 Trent, Cucurella, Camavinga and Brahim enter the XI 04:27 Trent Alexander-Arnold as Madrid’s passing trigger 04:53 Jude Bellingham takes over the game 05:39 Mourinho’s new role for Bellingham 07:41 Real Madrid’s counterpressing problems 08:57 Mbappé explodes in the right half-space 10:24 Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinícius building chemistry 11:20 Marc Cucurella’s impressive first start 13:19 Mourinho has Madrid enjoying their football again 14:11 Bellingham and Mbappé’s individual quality 16:57 Trent and Brahim Díaz as a right-side partnership 17:26 Eduardo Camavinga: elite ball winner, recurring mistakes 20:03 Vinícius becomes increasingly isolated on the left 21:20 Madrid are no longer force-feeding Vinícius 23:02 Vinícius’ one-on-one decline and Mourinho’s management 25:29 Rotation concerns for Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham 27:51 Where does Tchouaméni fit? 29:05 Bellingham’s huge attacking influence 29:53 Can Yan Diomande become a starter? 30:21 Is the level of La Liga becoming a problem? 33:24 The biggest changes Mourinho has made at Real Madrid 35:38 More leadership and accountability in the squad 37:01 Jude Bellingham emerging as Madrid’s on-field leader 37:35 Why Mourinho is prioritizing Bellingham again 40:48 Right-side progression and Real Madrid’s remaining issues 42:43 Why Bellingham should stay close to goal 47:58 How weak is La Liga right now? 49:26 Barcelona, Gabriel Jesus and Rodri discussion 50:18 Final thoughts

The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)