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Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe both struck as Real Madrid’s perfect start to La Liga under Jose Mourinho continued in a 4-0 cruise against Malaga on Sunday.

Los Blancos scored three times in just over 10 minutes in the first half to open up a comfortable lead over the Andalusian visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Sandwiched between Bellingham and Mbappe’s strikes was an own goal by Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, while Arda Guler tapped in a fourth late on.

“I’ve got the freedom to go higher or lower if we need, I’m enjoying myself a lot,” Bellingham told Real Madrid TV of his attacking midfield role under Mourinho.

The former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star was given a standing ovation from the fans when he was substituted in the second half.

“It’s an honour to play for this club and in front of these fans, and the ovation was very nice,” added Bellingham.

After two victories in their opening two games and with superstar trio Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius Junior starting the season well, Madrid’s confidence was high.

Mourinho rotated, making five changes to the team that started their opening matches, giving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella, among others, their first starts this season.

Bellingham opened the scoring after 19 minutes with an excellent solo goal, beating two defenders before drilling through Herrero’s legs.

Bellingham forced the second goal seven minutes later, after Herrero denied Mbappe.

The England international headed the rebound towards goal and defender Carlos Puga desperately tried to clear off the line, with the ball bouncing in off Herrero.

Mbappe rattled home the third with a volley from Alexander-Arnold’s cross for his fourth goal of the campaign, leaving him top of Spain’s scoring charts.

Promoted side Malaga threatened just before half-time, with Rafa Rodriguez striking the post after a corner was played to him, and Chupe hitting the side netting.

– Clean sheet banked –

Madrid cruised through the second half, with Bellingham hitting the outside of the post as they occasionally threatened to extend their lead.

They only managed to get a fourth late on, when Vinicius teed up substitute Guler to finish from point-blank range.

“The second half was more about managing the game, at a lower tempo. Malaga were calmer on the ball, but every time we stepped up the pace, it always felt like we could score one or two more.

“One of our objectives was to keep a clean sheet.”

Madrid managed to do that for the first time this season, and Mourinho said it was important for Los Blancos.

“Football isn’t just about having fun with the beauty of the goals — it’s also about going home thinking that we’re a solid unit,” added the Portuguese veteran.

Deportivo La Coruna secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Valencia.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his third goal of the campaign for the Galician side, who also benefitted from own goals by Cesar Tarrega and Mouctar Diakhaby.

Edin Terzic’s Athletic Bilbao also claimed their first win, 2-0 at Celta Vigo, with goals from Alex Berenguer and Robert Navarro.

On Monday, champions Barcelona host Rayo Vallecano in their third match of the campaign, having comfortably won their opening games.

AFP

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Moses Itauma has been given the all-clear and is now recuperating at home with his family after a precautionary trip to hospital.

The 21-year-old from Chatham was stretchered from the ring at The O2 Arena on Saturday evening following his ninth-round stoppage loss to Filip Hrgovic in their vacant IBF heavyweight title contest.

The young fighter’s departure on a stretcher prompted immediate concern, but he was discharged after medical checks confirmed no serious issues.

“Moses has gone to the hospital for a check-up,” promoter Frank Warren confirmed. “It’s precautionary that he’s gone to the hospital. That’s what we always do to make sure, because the most important thing is the boxer’s health.”

Itauma had entered the bout unbeaten in 14 professional fights, with ambitions of becoming the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history behind Mike Tyson.

The contest had been billed as “Witness History,” and Itauma appeared destined to deliver on that promise during a blistering opening.

He controlled every round through the first half of the bout, flooring Hrgovic with a knockdown in the second and unleashing a sustained assault of heavy shots across seven rounds.

Yet the experienced 34-year-old Croatian refused to buckle, absorbing everything the young Briton threw at him.

Having never previously been taken beyond the sixth round in his career, Itauma’s energy reserves ran dry as the eighth round unfolded. Hrgovic seized his moment.

By the ninth, Itauma could barely remain upright, swinging without accuracy as he lurched around the ring. Trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel at the same moment referee Howard Foster moved to halt proceedings.

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Chelsea on Sunday escaped Brighton scare with a narrow win of 4-3.

Chelsea might just be this season’s Premier League entertainers and yet head coach Xabi Alonso seemingly believes less is more when it comes to possession.

Alonso has started with two wins from two League games in charge of Chelsea, with seven goals scored and five conceded. So far, it has been a lot of fun – if not entirely convincing.

But perhaps the most interesting numbers are around how much – or how little – Chelsea are having the ball. Having finished their 3-2 victory over Fulham with 38.5 per cent of possession, Chelsea had just 25.6 per cent in the 4-2 success over Brighton.

Chelsea’s third goal, scored in the 32nd minute, best summed up the London club under Alonso to date. It took the home side three passes to go from the edge of their own penalty area to Joao Pedro scoring against his former club.

Jorrel Hato passed the ball to Morgan Rogers, he then released Hato down the left and the wing-back slid the ball across for Pedro to finish. It was a devastating counter-attack and should have put Chelsea on course for a much easier win.

Romeo Lavia and Pedro Neto, from a Rogers cross, had already put Chelsea two goals up before Pedro got on the scoresheet. But the home side made life difficult for themselves before Cole Palmer – in front of England head coach Thomas Tuchel – made sure of the three points.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez could not keep a clean sheet on his Chelsea debut, as he was first beaten by a stunning volley from Malick Yalcouye and then watched a Pascal Gross cross deflect past him off Pedro.

But with the home fans panicking and Chelsea threatening to throw their advantage away, Palmer produced a brilliant goal against the run of play to keep up his team’s perfect start to the season.

Pascal Gross scored a third for Brighton but it came in time added on for stoppages and too late to change the outcome of the game.

Manchester City target Enzo Fernandez was once again missing from the Chelsea squad. The Blues are interested in signing Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and an injury to Moises Caicedo, who was forced off 14 minutes after being introduced as a substitute, may accelerate that deal.