Real Madrid have begun their 2025-26 La Liga title challenge with a narrow and unconvincing 1-0 victory over a resilient Osasuna side at the Santiago Bernabéu, requiring a second-half penalty from superstar Kylian Mbappé to secure all three points.
Xabi Alonso’s side endured a slow and frustrating start to the match. Osasuna were content to sit deep in a compact defensive shape, and the home side struggled to find any attacking ideas or creativity to break them down for large periods of the first half. Los Blancos’ best attempt before the break came from an unlikely source, with defender Dean Huijsen forcing a tidy save with a long-range effort.
The game was ultimately unlocked by a moment of individual brilliance from Kylian Mbappé. The French forward produced a sublime piece of skill, cutting inside his man before being clipped inside the penalty area. The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Mbappé himself stepped up to calmly roll the ball home and break the deadlock.
After taking the lead, Madrid probed for a second goal but failed to create any clear-cut chances. Manager Xabi Alonso seemed content to manage the game and see out the narrow victory, making several substitutions in the process. New signing Franco Mastantuono provided a lively cameo from the bench, but the team was otherwise quiet in the closing stages.
In the end, it was far from a convincing performance from Real Madrid. While they will be relieved to have secured the three points to start their campaign, the sluggish and uninspired display for long stretches of the game highlights that there is still plenty of work for Xabi Alonso to do as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for the title.