Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu has brought back a familiar feeling: Real Madrid look organised, ruthless, and difficult to shake. Three league matches into the 2026/27 season, the early signs suggest the club may already be rediscovering the edge that once defined it.
Madrid have opened with a perfect nine points from nine, and they have done it with a level of control that has made the start feel more convincing than lucky. For Mourinho, the detail that stands out is even sharper: he never produced a three-win league opening during his first spell in charge.
A Clean Sweep to Begin the Campaign
Real Madrid’s first week of league football delivered both results and momentum. The opening away trip to Espanyol ended in a narrow 2-1 victory, followed by a commanding 4-1 home win over Real Sociedad. On August 30, they capped the run with a 4-0 defeat of Malaga at the Bernabeu, and they kept a clean sheet in the process.
The Malaga match offered the clearest glimpse yet of how well the pieces are starting to fit together.
- Jude Bellingham struck first in the 19th minute
- Bellingham then forced an own goal seven minutes later
- Kylian Mbappe extended the lead with the third goal
- Arda Guler, assisted by Vinicius Junior, completed the scoring
That sequence says plenty about the mood around the team. Madrid are not merely winning; they are winning with spread-out threats, clear rhythm, and very little panic at the back.
Why This Opening Feels Different
Mourinho’s first Madrid tenure was full of tension, fire, and unforgettable nights, but it never produced a flawless league start. Across three full seasons, the team did not open with three straight victories in the championship race.
- 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 comparison matters because it shows how quickly this second chapter has taken shape. The sample size is tiny, and no one at the Bernabeu will confuse August form with a finished story, but the contrast with Mourinho’s first spell is impossible to ignore.
The Summer Overhaul Behind the Momentum
Madrid did not stumble into this strong start. The club backed Mourinho heavily in the transfer market, spending close to £200 million to reshape the squad around his demands.
The summer arrivals point to a deliberate plan rather than a collection of headline names.
- Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and started against Malaga, where he gave balance to the left side
- Denzel Dumfries came in from Inter Milan and added direct running from right back
- Ibrahima Konate joined on a free transfer from Liverpool to strengthen the centre of defence
- Bernardo Silva also arrived on a free transfer, bringing intelligence, control, and elite experience from Manchester City
Each move appears tailored to a specific tactical need. That matters because Mourinho’s teams usually look best when every piece has a clear job and every role serves the structure around it.
Bellingham’s New Space to Work In
The biggest tactical change is easy to spot. Instead of asking Bellingham to fight for the same attacking zones as Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, Mourinho has placed him in a freer pocket behind them. That gives Madrid a central connector who can find passes, arrive late, and exploit the space created by two elite runners ahead of him.
The idea is simple but effective: let the wide and forward threats stretch the pitch, keep Bellingham in the pockets between the lines, and trust the renewed back line to absorb pressure when necessary. It is the sort of adjustment that can make a gifted player look even more decisive.
The Message Mourinho Is Sending
Even with nine points in the bag, Mourinho is not sounding satisfied. After a preseason victory over Deportivo, he made it clear that the real work was still ahead: “You know the five who are at Valdebebas. And next week, the real work begins.”
That line fits the manager perfectly. He has never been one to celebrate early comfort, especially at a club that has gone two seasons without a major trophy. For now, the start is ideal, the performances are encouraging, and the direction is clear. The real test is whether this version of Real Madrid can keep that edge once the season becomes less forgiving.
