AFCON 2025
Real Madrid began the new La Liga season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu, giving Xabi Alonso victory in his first league game in charge.
After a cagey first half in which Madrid dominated possession but struggled to break through Osasuna’s compact defense, the breakthrough came six minutes after the restart.
Kylian Mbappé won a penalty after being clipped inside the area and calmly converted from the spot to score the only goal of the match.
Madrid pushed to extend their lead, with Vinícius Júnior lively but wasteful in the final third, while Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni kept control in midfield. Thibaut Courtois had a quiet evening, as Osasuna rarely threatened, though Ante Budimir did come close with a late header that drifted wide.
Osasuna’s frustrations boiled over in stoppage time when Abel Bretones was shown a straight red card for violent conduct, ending any hope of a comeback.
The result stretched Madrid’s unbeaten run in opening-day fixtures to 17 years, while also offering a glimpse of Alonso’s tactical vision, marked by aggressive pressing and the introduction of promising youngsters Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García.
Though the margin was slim, the performance ensured a winning start and three valuable points, with Madrid looking to build rhythm as they chase another league title.
