Real Madrid vs Osasuna: Overview

Real Madrid CF secured a narrow 1-0 victory over CA Osasuna in their opening match of the 2025-26 La Liga season at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The sole goal came from summer marquee signing Kylian Mbappé, who converted from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after being fouled by Juan Cruz in the box. This marked Mbappé's first official goal in the prestigious number 10 shirt for Los Blancos.

Despite dominating possession throughout the match, Madrid struggled to break down a resilient Osasuna defense that had clearly come with a gameplan to frustrate the capital club. The visitors deployed a disciplined low block that limited the effectiveness of Madrid's star-studded attack featuring Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz.

The match also represented a significant milestone for Xabi Alonso, who made his competitive debut as Real Madrid's head coach after replacing the legendary Carlo Ancelotti. The former midfield maestro watched on as his team controlled proceedings but lacked the cutting edge to put the game beyond doubt.

Osasuna's resistance was finally broken when they were reduced to ten men in stoppage time after Abel Bretones received a straight red card for a reckless challenge. Despite the numerical advantage in the closing minutes, Madrid couldn't add to their tally.

The victory places Real Madrid in sixth position in the early La Liga table, while Osasuna sits in 13th. The unusual Tuesday night fixture was necessitated by Madrid's extended participation in the Club World Cup, which required additional recovery time for their internationals before beginning their domestic campaign.

"This was a typical opening match with some expected difficulties. Osasuna defended very well, and we had to be patient. Getting three points was the most important thing today, and I'm pleased with how the team handled the pressure. Mbappé showed his quality when it mattered most, but we know we can perform much better as a unit," said Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's new head coach.

"I'm delighted to score my first official goal for Real Madrid. The penalty was a big responsibility, but I've been practicing them a lot in training. The most important thing was getting the win to start the season. We still have much to improve, but this is just the beginning of our journey together," commented Kylian Mbappé after his match-winning contribution.

"We executed our gameplan well for large periods. Against a team with Real Madrid's quality, you need to be perfect for 90 minutes, and unfortunately, we conceded that penalty which decided the match. I'm proud of my players' effort and discipline. With this level of commitment, we will achieve good results this season," reflected Alessio Lisci, Osasuna's coach.

"The red card was unfortunate, but by that point, the damage was done. We came here with a clear strategy and nearly got something from the game. Madrid have incredible individual quality, but we made them work extremely hard for the victory," said Ante Budimir, Osasuna's captain.

The possession statistics heavily favored Real Madrid CF with approximately 70% compared to CA Osasuna's 30%. This dominance was reflected in the shot count, with Madrid registering 14 attempts compared to Osasuna's 4. However, the home side managed only 5 shots on target despite their territorial advantage, highlighting their struggles to break down Osasuna's organized defensive structure.

Corner kicks also demonstrated Madrid's offensive pressure, with the hosts earning 9 corners to Osasuna's 2. The disciplinary record showed 3 yellow cards for Madrid players (Tchouameni, Valverde, and Militão) and 4 for Osasuna (Torró, Catena, Cruz, and Moncayola), plus the late red card for Abel Bretones.

Individually, Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed on his competitive debut with 112 touches and a 94% pass completion rate. The English right-back created 4 chances from his advanced position. Aurélien Tchouameni controlled the midfield with 98 passes completed and 7 ball recoveries, while Vinícius Júnior completed 8 successful dribbles, the most of any player on the pitch.

For Osasuna, goalkeeper Sergio Herrera made 4 crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. Lucas Torró worked tirelessly in midfield with 5 interceptions and 9 clearances, while Ante Budimir held up the ball well despite limited service, winning 7 aerial duels against Madrid's center-backs.

19' - First significant chance of the match fell to Real Madrid when Vinícius Júnior's curling effort from the edge of the box forced a diving save from Sergio Herrera. The Brazilian winger cut inside from the left flank after combining well with Mbappé.

32' - Osasuna threatened on the counter-attack with Ante Budimir heading narrowly wide from Rubén García's precise cross. This rare forward foray gave the visitors confidence as they continued to frustrate Madrid's attacking efforts.

45+1' - The first half ended goalless despite Madrid's dominance in possession. Xabi Alonso was seen giving animated instructions to his players as they headed down the tunnel, clearly dissatisfied with their lack of cutting edge.

51' - GOAL (1-0) - The deadlock was finally broken when Kylian Mbappé was brought down in the penalty area by Juan Cruz after a quick interchange with Brahim Díaz. The French superstar stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, sending Herrera the wrong way with a composed finish into the bottom right corner.

67' - Tactical shift by Alonso as he introduced Franco Mastantuono for Arda Güler, adding more creativity to the midfield. The 18-year-old Argentine nearly made an immediate impact with a long-range effort that clipped the outside of the post.

78' - Osasuna's best chance for an equalizer came when substitute Jon Moncayola's volley from the edge of the area forced Courtois into a spectacular fingertip save, pushing the ball onto the crossbar.

90+2' - Abel Bretones received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Federico Valverde, ending any realistic hopes of an Osasuna comeback in the final minutes of the match.

The historical rivalry between Real Madrid CF and CA Osasuna has traditionally favored the capital club, and this latest encounter continued that trend. Prior to this match, Madrid had won 4 of the last 5 meetings between these sides in La Liga, with one draw. The aggregate score across those games stood at 11-3 in Madrid's favor.

Osasuna's last victory at the Santiago Bernabeu came in 2019, a memorable 2-0 win that remains a cherished moment for Los Rojillos supporters. However, since then, Madrid have reasserted their dominance in this fixture, particularly at home.

The tactical battle between Xabi Alonso and Alessio Lisci represented a fascinating contrast in approaches. Alonso, despite being in his first competitive match as Madrid coach, deployed the club's traditional possession-based 4-3-3 formation, while Lisci opted for a compact 5-3-2 system designed to frustrate the hosts.

Individual duels provided intriguing subplots throughout the match. The contest between Vinícius Júnior and right-back Valentin Rosier was particularly captivating, with the Brazilian often testing the Frenchman with his pace and trickery. Similarly, Madrid's new defender Dean Huijsen had his hands full dealing with the physical presence of Ante Budimir.

In midfield, the battle between Tchouameni and Torró showcased contrasting styles, with Madrid's Frenchman dictating play through possession while Osasuna's captain focused on disrupting Madrid's rhythm. The narrow margin of victory continues the trend of competitive encounters between these sides, despite their different ambitions in La Liga.

After the opening fixtures of the 2025-26 La Liga season, Real Madrid CF sit in 6th position with 3 points from their solitary match. The narrow victory provides a solid foundation for Xabi Alonso's side as they begin their campaign to reclaim the title they narrowly missed out on last season.

CA Osasuna find themselves in 13th place following the defeat at the Bernabeu. Despite the loss, their disciplined performance against one of the league favorites suggests they can improve upon last season's 9th-place finish under new coach Alessio Lisci.

The early La Liga table remains very fluid, with most teams having played just one match. Madrid's traditional rivals FC Barcelona currently occupy 2nd position after an impressive opening day win, while defending champions Atletico Madrid are in 4th place.

For Real Madrid, the victory represents a steady if unspectacular start in their quest to dethrone city rivals Atletico. With the addition of Mbappé and other new signings, expectations are high for Los Blancos to challenge on multiple fronts this season.

Osasuna's primary objective remains securing mid-table stability with aspirations of pushing for European qualification. Their organized display against Madrid suggests they have the defensive resilience to trouble the league's stronger sides, though questions remain about their attacking potency.