Malaga used to be a Champions League powerhouse, and they are back in La Liga this season. Real Madrid gave them a warm welcome back to the top flighit by trouncing them on Sunday afternoon at the Santiago Bernabeu, 4-0. Here were the biggest stars and flops from the game.
Star: AM Jude Bellingham
My goodness is Jude Bellingham unstoppable. For the third game running, the England international was Real Madrid's best player on the pitch, even in a game in which more than half the starters were dominant. Bellingham scored and nearly scored twice while progressing the ball and defending well. He is from another planet.
Star: ST Kylian Mbappe
So, too, is Kylian Mbappe. The French international had an afternoon for the ages in terms of his explosiveness and threat, winning five dribbles while adding another goal to his tally. His all around game just keeps getting better and better for Madrid, as he and Jude have cooked up the ultimate partnership.
Star: RB Trent Alexander-Arnold
If there were every any debate about who should be starting at right back, then Trent Alexander-Arnold totally ended it. He was unstoppable in all phases, defending with perfect reading of the game while ruling the passing on the pitch like he were a world class midfielder. Trent force fed the attackers with opportunities, assisting the Mbappe goal and totaling three chances created with almost no misplaced passes.
Flop: RW Brahim Diaz
Jose Mourinho gave Brahim Diaz the start against the club where he grew up, Malaga, but the Moroccan international flopped badly. Honestly, in a team with Arda Guler and Yan Diomande, Brahim has no business starting. He accomplished nothing at all in the win.
Star: LW Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior is getting back on track in a big way, and his confidence will be even higher after his performance against Malaga. Vini had four key passes, three dribbles completed, and three fouls drawn to lead the team as the most dynamic player, doing an amazing job of creating space for Mbappe, Jude, and even Trent.
CM Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga got a surprise start and took advantage of it, defending well and even showing real quality on the ball as a passer. More of this, please.
LB Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella was the best ball winner on the team and absolutely shut down shop on the left flank for Real Madrid. So far through two games, he has been worth every penny for the Royal Whites.
Flop: CM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde slipped backwards again vs. Malaga. He struggled to keep the ball for his team and offered no real chance creation and was surprisingly tame defensively. Valverde needs to be more consistent.
Star: CB Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger does not look finished, and he can really beat up on these lower level La Liga teams with his experience and physicality. But most impressively, Rudiger was exquisite on the ball, helping Real Madrid control the game from start to finish as the most accurate passer on the pitch.
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