Madrid’s Perfect Start Under Mourinho
José Mourinho has wasted little time making Real Madrid look ruthless again. Three league matches into the 2026/27 season, the club sits on maximum points, and the early signs suggest a team with sharper edges, better balance, and far more conviction.
The most striking part is that this opening run has already bettered anything Mourinho managed in his first spell at the Bernabéu. For a coach known for demanding instant standards, that is an early marker of how quickly the squad has absorbed his ideas.
Three Wins, No Drama
Real Madrid began with a tense 2-1 away victory over Espanyol, then followed it with a convincing 4-1 home win against Real Sociedad. On 30 August, they delivered their cleanest performance yet, beating Málaga 4-0 without conceding at the Bernabéu.
The latest result felt especially complete. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute, then forced an own goal seven minutes later to widen the gap. Kylian Mbappé added a third, and Arda Güler finished the job after being set up by Vinícius Júnior. It was efficient, controlled, and relentless.
That is the kind of start Mourinho wants: no dropped points, no panic, and no sense that the team is waiting for something to go wrong. So far, nothing has.
A Better Opening Than Before
The contrast with Mourinho’s earlier Real Madrid tenure is immediate. During his original spell, the team never opened a league season with three straight wins. This time, he has done it in one go.
| Season | Opening record | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2010/11 | 2 wins, 1 draw | 7 |
| 2011/12 | 2 wins, 1 loss | 6 |
| 2012/13 | 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss | 4 |
| 2026/27 | 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses | 9 |
It is still early, and a perfect start can lose its shine quickly. Even so, this is the strongest league opening Mourinho has ever produced across both Real Madrid eras.
The Squad Has Been Rebuilt Around the Plan
This surge has not happened in a vacuum. Real Madrid spent heavily over the summer, and the squad now looks tailored to Mourinho’s preferred shape and tempo. The recruitment has been purposeful rather than flashy.
Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and has already settled into the left side with confidence. Denzel Dumfries gives the right flank more thrust. Ibrahima Konaté brings power and reliability to central defence, while Bernardo Silva adds control, intelligence, and big-match experience in midfield.
Each signing fits a clear need. The result is a side that looks less improvised and more deliberately assembled.
Bellingham Has More Room to Work
The tactical shift is easy to spot. Jude Bellingham is now operating just behind Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé, which keeps him closer to the spaces where he can decide matches. Instead of crowding the same zones as the wide forwards, he can arrive from deeper areas and connect the attack.
That positioning makes Real Madrid more dangerous. Vinícius and Mbappé can attack space ahead of them, while Bellingham becomes the bridge between midfield control and final-third damage. Behind them, the defence has looked more stable than it has for some time.
Mourinho Still Wants More
Even with a flawless start, Mourinho is not sounding satisfied. After a pre-season win over Deportivo, he made it clear that the real work was still ahead, not behind.
That mindset suits him. A perfect opening buys time, but it does not guarantee anything in a club environment where expectations are permanent. Real Madrid have gone two seasons without a major trophy, so early momentum matters, but only as the beginning of something larger.
For now, the message is simple: Mourinho has brought back urgency, clarity, and edge. If this continues, Real Madrid may not just be winning again. They may finally be playing like Real Madrid again.
