{"id":452,"date":"2026-08-31T18:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=452"},"modified":"2026-08-31T18:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:59:17","slug":"seven-factors-that-have-made-real-madrid-a-class-apart-under-mourinho-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=452","title":{"rendered":"Seven factors that have made Real Madrid a class apart under Mourinho this season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Real Madrid have enjoyed a wonderful start to the season with three back-to-back wins in <a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/competition\/laliga-10\/fixtures\">LaLiga<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>It appears Jose Mourinho has added a new lease of life to a team that has struggled to keep pace with Barcelona over the past few seasons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"HorizontalSeparator_separator__zeIS5\"\/>\n<hr class=\"HorizontalSeparator_separator__zeIS5\"\/>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Several players who have been struggling in the past have risen to the occasion, including the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/player\/jude-bellingham-343087\">Jude Bellingham<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/player\/federico-valverde-176958\">Federico Valverde<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>A recent report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marca.com\/futbol\/real-madrid\/2026\/08\/31\/siete-puntos-mejoran-madrid.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">MARCA<\/a> has pointed out seven factors working in Jose Mourinho\u2019s favour this season so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>Courtois lives more peacefully<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Unlike last season, when Thibaut Courtois was called into action within seconds of the opener at Oviedo, the Belgian has enjoyed a far calmer start. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>He has made five saves across the three games, all routine, with <a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/team\/real-madrid-26\">Real Madrid<\/a> no longer reliant on his heroics to stay on their feet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>The resurgence of Bellingham<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__wSWcT\" style=\"--padding-bottom-mobile:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-tablet-portrait:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-tablet-landscape:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-desktop:66.66666666666666%\"><picture class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__picture__7Bplo\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=840&amp;h=560&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=840&amp;h=560&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=620&amp;h=413&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=620&amp;h=413&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=336&amp;h=224&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=336&amp;h=224&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\"\/><img alt=\"Article image:Seven factors that have made Real Madrid a class apart under Mourinho this season\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"186.66666666666666\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Freal-madrid-v-malaga-cf-laliga-ea-sports-2026-27-2-1-2048x1366.jpg\" width=\"280\" class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__img__0dUWu ImageWrapper_media-container__image__4Rgpy\" importance=\"low\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Bellingham has been top form this season. (Photo by Denis Doyle\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Bellingham has been reborn under Mourinho, rediscovering the total-footballer form he showed on his arrival in Spain. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Beyond his two goals, he plays with a far more powerful engine than the rest, and left the Bernabeu on its feet against Malaga.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>As former player Julen Guerrero puts it, the <a href=\"https:\/\/madriduniversal.com\/former-spanish-midfielder-heaps-praise-on-real-madrid-superstar-mourinho-has-given-him-freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Englishman has had more freedom<\/a> under Mourinho.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>A very different attitude<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Whether ahead or facing adversity, <a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/team\/real-madrid-26\">Real Madrid<\/a> have shown a completely different mentality this season. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>The apathy that too often crept in last term is gone, with Bellingham\u2019s frustration at the team dropping their level against Malaga a clear sign of the standards now demanded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>A plugged-in squad<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Every fit player has already featured, and the substitutes have contributed two goals, Espi\u2019s winner at Espanyol and Arda Guler\u2019s strike against Malaga.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>Valverde is flying again<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__wSWcT\" style=\"--padding-bottom-mobile:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-tablet-portrait:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-tablet-landscape:66.66666666666666%;--padding-bottom-desktop:66.66666666666666%\"><picture class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__picture__7Bplo\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=840&amp;h=560&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=840&amp;h=560&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=620&amp;h=413&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=620&amp;h=413&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=336&amp;h=224&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=336&amp;h=224&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\"\/><img alt=\"Article image:Seven factors that have made Real Madrid a class apart under Mourinho this season\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"186.66666666666666\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=280&amp;h=187&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fmadriduniversal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Frc-deportivo-a-coruna-v-real-madrid-trofeo-teresa-herrera-11-2048x1365.jpg\" width=\"280\" class=\"ImageWithSets_of-image__img__0dUWu ImageWrapper_media-container__image__4Rgpy\" importance=\"low\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Valverde is showing his quality again. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>One of last season\u2019s biggest concerns, Valverde is back to his dominant best. Alongside Bernardo Silva he covers less ground, and with Camavinga he plays more freely, but crucially, the captain looks rejuvenated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>The full-backs have power again<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold have impressed on the right, the former with power, the latter with quality, ending last season\u2019s problems in that area. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>On the left, Marc Cucurella has quickly shown his worth too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3>The connection with the stands<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>Finally, the bond with supporters has been restored. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleParagraph_articleParagraph__k_2M8\">\n<p>The Bernabeu made clear it would not tolerate a repeat of the last two seasons, and both Mourinho and his players have responded, with fans convinced the Portuguese is the man to lead them back to glory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"PublisherImprintLink_container__v8kTD title-7-medium\" href=\"https:\/\/www.madriduniversal.com\/about-us\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=32&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https:\/\/images.onefootball.com\/cw\/icons\/info-light.svg 1x, https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=48&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https:\/\/images.onefootball.com\/cw\/icons\/info-light.svg 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/image-service.onefootball.com\/transform?w=48&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https:\/\/images.onefootball.com\/cw\/icons\/info-light.svg\"\/>View publisher imprint<\/a><button class=\"NativeShare_container__wfoDT Button_root__Br4W6 Button_outline__i5NIY\">Share this article<svg class=\"NativeShare_icon__NM_vo\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M12.2377 1.1804a.75.75 0 0 0-.9762.0003l-3.51 3.01a.75.75 0 0 0 .9765 1.1386l2.292-1.9655V12.52c0 .46.33.84.73.84.4 0 .73-.37.73-.84V3.3633l2.2718 1.9463a.75.75 0 1 0 .9759-1.1392l-3.49-2.99Z\"\/><path d=\"M5.14 8.62c-.904 0-1.64.7358-1.64 1.6455v9.209c0 .9097.736 1.6455 1.64 1.6455h13.22c.904 0 1.64-.7358 1.64-1.6455v-9.1977c0-.9097-.736-1.6455-1.64-1.6455h-1.61a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.5h1.61c1.736 0 3.14 1.411 3.14 3.1455v9.1977c0 1.7344-1.404 3.1455-3.14 3.1455H5.14C3.404 22.62 2 21.2089 2 19.4745v-9.209C2 8.5311 3.404 7.12 5.14 7.12h1.32a.75.75 0 1 1 0 1.5H5.14Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<section class=\"XpaTaboolaPlaceholder_container__Xu_25\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/onefootball.com\/en\/news\/seven-factors-that-have-made-real-madrid-a-class-apart-under-mourinho-this-season-43377185\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Real Madrid have enjoyed a wonderful start to the season with three back-to-back wins in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2Fv22Fphotobooth2Fcms2Fen2F433771853Fdate2026-08-31.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}