Bellingham said he enjoys the freer style of play.

With goals from Bellingham, Mbappe, and Guler, Real Madrid secured a 4-0 victory over Malaga in the third round of the 2026/27 La Liga season. England star Bellingham stated that the freer playing style allowed him to perform better and that he enjoyed playing this way.

Bellingham received the ball in the 19th minute of the first half, sprinted into the penalty area, and slotted the ball home to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead.

In the 26th minute, Brahim Diaz played a through ball to Mbappe, whose shot was cleared by Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero. Bellingham then headed the ball, which struck Alfonso Herrero and bounced into the net, giving Real Madrid a 2-0 lead over Malaga.

In the 30th minute, Arnold crossed from the right wing into the penalty area, where Mbappe volleyed home to make it 3-0 for Real Madrid. In stoppage time of the second half, Vinicius passed back from the penalty area, and Gueller seized the opportunity to slot home, securing a 4-0 victory for Real Madrid.

Ultimately, Real Madrid defeated Malaga 4-0 at home, securing their third consecutive victory.

Real Madrid midfielder Julio Bellingham said, "I play with more freedom now, and I can run in higher or lower positions depending on the team's needs. I really enjoy this feeling, which is why I'm able to play better now."

“We played very well in the first half, but we were terrible in the last 20 minutes. We played a very good game in the first half, but we played very poorly in the last 20 minutes. I don’t know why, but we were definitely not good during that period.”

Bellingham continued, "It's an honor to play for this club and in this stadium, and to play in front of these fans. It's wonderful to receive applause from the fans. It's all very special."

“We are a top team with a very strong squad and high quality in every position. When the manager wanted to make some adjustments, the players who didn’t play in the last game were very smart. They knew what they should do, which is why they played so well today.”

In addition, Real Madrid manager Mourinho said after the match, "Bellingham has very high expectations of himself and his teammates, which I really like. I agree with Bellingham that I don't want to see him playing defensively almost like a second left-back, because I've seen him play like that many times."

“We have now made different arrangements for the team’s organization. He knows exactly what he should do and plays very comfortably. He also enjoys the atmosphere where everyone contributes.”

Image source: Internet