Real Madrid vs Malaga – News and Probable Lineups

After securing two victories out of two under Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid is set to aim for a flawless nine points when newly-promoted Malaga visits the Santiago Bernabeu this Sunday for round three of the 2026-27 LaLiga campaign.

Juan Funes’s team has encountered expected difficulties since returning to the top division and now faces a stern challenge against a squad with aspirations of winning the title and a point to prove at home.

Match overview

Mourinho’s second tenure at the Bernabeu has commenced impressively, with Real Madrid achieving maximum points from their first two matches, positioning them second in the LaLiga table.

Their season began with a tight 2-1 triumph away against Espanyol, where Jude Bellingham opened the scoring and Carlos Espi, who came off the bench, secured the win with a late goal in the 90th minute.

Any remaining uncertainties disappeared in their following match, a dominant 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, where Mbappe made a notable statement by scoring a hat-trick, and Vinicius Junior also contributed to the scoreline as the team started to find their rhythm.

Having last secured the LaLiga title in the 2023-24 season, Madrid is eager to reclaim the trophy this season, and early signs indicate they have the attacking strength to achieve this.

Recently, the Bernabeu has proven to be a challenging venue for opponents, with Real Madrid registering just one LaLiga defeat at home throughout 2026, making it unlikely that Sunday’s visitors will present a significant threat to alter that trend.

On the other hand, Malaga has found the jump to the top tier to be every bit as difficult as anticipated, having lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in their first match before finishing level at 1-1 against fellow promoted team Deportivo La Coruna in their second outing.

The draw against Deportivo carried a unique significance, as both clubs were relegated from LaLiga in 2018 and have now made their return to the top flight together, making their matchday two encounter a sentimental reunion for the supporters of both sides.

Funes’s team earned their place in LaLiga by emerging victorious in the Segunda Division play-offs last season, finishing fourth before defeating Almeria in two legs – a goalless first leg followed by a 2-1 away victory, securing their return to the top tier after an eight-year absence.

The head-to-head history between these teams offers little optimism for Malaga, who have lost four of the last five encounters with Real Madrid and drawn the other, failing to secure victory in their past 11 meetings, comprised of nine losses and two draws.

The latest clash occurred in April 2018, when Malaga faced Real Madrid in LaLiga, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.

Team News

Mbappe is displaying excellent form early in the season, having netted a hat-trick against Real Sociedad, and he is anticipated to lead the attack once more on Sunday.

Rodrygo remains out due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Ferland Mendy is nearing a comeback from a ligament injury.

Eder Militao has returned to training after a significant hamstring injury and aims for a return to competitive play following the next international break.

Raul Asencio, Thiago Pitarch, and Endrick are all unavailable due to shin, knee, and muscle injuries, respectively, while Aurelien Tchouameni is sidelined with a muscle injury and is not expected to return until early September.

For Malaga, Adriano Nino continues to be out with a thigh injury, while Diego Murillo is undergoing recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

Fernando Calero is unavailable due to a broken rib, Moussa Diarra is sidelined with a soleus injury in his right leg, and Aaron Ochoa is set to have surgery on a torn meniscus, ruling him out for an extended period.

Real Madrid probable starting XI:

Courteous; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Silva, Valverde; Guler, Bellingham, Vinny Jr; Mbappe

Malaga probable starting XI:

Blacksmith; Puga, Recio, Galilee, Raphita; Lawrence, Merino; Cruz, Doctor, Munoz; To him

Malaga has not managed to defeat Real Madrid in the last 11 encounters and heads to the Bernabeu without a win in their previous two fixtures.

This match looks to be a straightforward affair for the hosts, and a substantial defeat could be on the horizon for the newly-promoted team that is still adjusting to life in LaLiga.