Bellingham admits Real Madrid were ‘very poor’ in final 20 minutes of Malaga win

Jude Bellingham says Real Madrid’s performance dropped sharply during the final 20 minutes of their 4-0 victory over Malaga in La Liga.

The England midfielder praised the overall display but was critical of the way his side finished the match, despite Real Madrid securing a third consecutive win under manager Jose Mourinho.

“It was a great game, but the last 20 minutes were very poor. I don’t know why, but it wasn’t good,” Bellingham told the club’s television channel.

Real Madrid had already established a comfortable advantage before their late decline, completing a convincing victory against Malaga in the third round of the Spanish league season. The result continued the club’s perfect start and strengthened their position at the top of the table.

Bellingham also spoke positively about his own role within the team. He said he now has more freedom to move around the pitch, allowing him to contribute both defensively and further forward.

“Now I have a little more freedom on the pitch, whether to drop back or go forward more. I enjoy that a lot, and that is why I am playing well,” he added.

The victory over Malaga was Real Madrid’s third in succession since the beginning of the campaign under Mourinho. They had previously beaten Espanyol and Real Sociedad, giving them nine points from their opening three matches.

Their latest win means Real Madrid sit first in the La Liga standings with a maximum points tally. Malaga, meanwhile, remain 19th and second from bottom, with one point from their first three games.

Although Bellingham was pleased with the result and his growing influence, his comments highlighted the one concern from an otherwise emphatic afternoon for Real Madrid. The team scored four times and maintained their winning run, but the midfielder acknowledged that their standards were not maintained until the final whistle.

The 4-0 scoreline ensured Real Madrid continued their recovery and preserved their perfect record, while Malaga were left with only one point and a difficult position near the bottom of the table.