Kylian Mbappé Fires Real Madrid to Winning Start for Alonso Against Osasuna

Published: 20 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Real Madrid began their La Liga campaign with a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu, courtesy of a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappé. The result gave head coach Xabi Alonso a winning start in his first league outing in charge of Los Blancos, though the performance left room for improvement.

The home side struggled to break down a disciplined Osasuna defence in the first half despite dominating possession and moving the ball with pace. Real’s only clear efforts came from distance, with Éder Militão forcing a strong save from goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Osasuna, meanwhile, sat deep, rarely venturing forward, clearly intent on frustrating Alonso’s men.

The breakthrough arrived six minutes after the restart. Mbappé was fouled inside the box by Juan Cruz, and the French forward confidently converted from the penalty spot, sending Herrera the wrong way. The goal sparked Real into greater urgency, with chances falling to Arda Güler and debutant Franco Mastantuono, but they were unable to extend their lead.

Osasuna’s best opportunity to level the score came late in the match when Ante Budimir rose unmarked inside the six-yard box, only to send his header over the bar. Their hopes of rescuing a point were finally dashed in stoppage time when Abel Bretones was sent off for an off-the-ball foul on Gonzalo García.

“It was important for us to start with a win at home, we knew it was going to be difficult,” Mbappé told Real Madrid TV. “Osasuna had a clear plan to wait for us and they had Budimir. We are happy with the victory and we are going for more.”

For Alonso, the match was not only about securing three points but also about introducing a new era at the club. His starting line-up included summer signings Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras in defence. He later handed an eagerly awaited debut to 18-year-old Argentine talent Mastantuono, who almost marked the occasion with a goal.

The victory was all the more significant given the number of absentees Real had to cope with. Key players Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick were unavailable through injury, while Antonio Rüdiger was suspended. Still, the team managed to show resilience and secure a winning start, even if the margin was slim.

Real Madrid’s focus will now be on building momentum as they seek to reclaim the league title from arch-rivals Barcelona, who opened their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mallorca. The challenge ahead is considerable, but with Mbappé already making his mark and Alonso beginning his tenure with a win, there is optimism in Madrid that this season could see the balance of power in Spanish football shift once more.