Real Madrid player ratings vs Malaga

Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé were the headline performers as Real Madrid beat Malaga 4-0, with the ratings backing up what the scoreline already said. Bellingham scored on 19 minutes and finished as the highest-rated starter at 8.5, while Mbappé's 8.9 was the best mark on the pitch after he swept home on the volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross on 30 minutes.

Bellingham and Mbappé set the standard

Andy Headspeath of si.com said that "based on Sunday’s showing, it is actually Bellingham who looks like the best player in the world right now." That is a fair call on this evidence. Bellingham did not just finish the move, he ran through the middle of the performance, and his goal came after he danced past four players.

Mbappé was just as decisive in the final third. His volley from Trent's delivery gave Madrid the second goal, and his 8.9 rating was the strongest on the pitch. Arda Güler added the fourth in stoppage time, tucking in a pull-back from Vinícius Júnior.

Trent and Vinícius supplied the control

Trent was involved from the opening 30 seconds and finished with an assist and three key passes, which fits the impression of a player who kept pushing Madrid forward all evening. Headspeath described him as "clearly determined to prove his worth having been left out of the opening two matches of the season," and the numbers matched that reading.

Vinícius created a match-high four chances and set up Güler late on. Thibaut Courtois had just one save to make in 90 minutes, and Madrid ended with 57% possession, 19 shots and 8 shots on target, while Malaga managed 43% possession and only 1 shot on target.