Real Madrid target perfect Liga start as Malaga visit Santiago Bernabeu

Real Madrid are aiming for a third consecutive La Liga victory when they welcome Malaga to the Santiago Bernabeu on the third matchday of the Spanish championship.

Jose Mourinho’s side go into the fixture after an impressive midweek performance against Real Sociedad, and will look to build on that result as they seek to start the season in the strongest possible fashion. However, the Real Madrid manager is expected to be without several important players across all areas of the team.

Endrick, Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao are all unavailable for the match. With another European fixture on the horizon, Mourinho could also rotate his squad to manage the workload of his players.

Yan Diomande, who was named among the substitutes against Real Sociedad on Wednesday, is expected to remain on the bench again this weekend.

The predicted Real Madrid line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois

Defenders: Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella

Midfielders: Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham

Forwards: Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

Malaga will also arrive in the capital with a number of players unavailable. Head coach Juan Funes is without Fernando Calero, Diego Murillo, Aaron Ochoa, Moussa Diarra and Adrian Nino as the visitors prepare for a difficult assignment at the home of the Spanish champions.

The expected Malaga team is:

Goalkeeper: Alfonso Herrero

Defenders: Carlos Puga, Angel Recio, Einar Galilea, Rafita Garrido

Midfielders: Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo, Carlos Dotor

Forwards: Joaquin Munoz, Chupe, David Larrubia

The meeting is the third league fixture of the season for both clubs. Real Madrid will be expected to take confidence from their midweek display, while Malaga must cope with a heavily populated injury list against a side seeking to maintain its winning run.

The match is also attracting strong interest from the betting market. 1xBet lists Real Madrid as clear favourites, with the home side priced at 1.11 to win. A draw is offered at 9.00, while a Malaga victory is rated at 21.00.

With absences affecting both squads, the final team selections may depend on how each manager balances continuity with the need to protect players ahead of the next European commitment. For Real Madrid, the priority is clear: secure three more points at the Santiago Bernabeu and preserve their perfect start to the league campaign.