Madrid Triumphs Over Osasuna, Xabi Alonso Praise for Young Talents in La Liga Victorious Debut
Real Madrid Kick Off LaLiga Campaign with 1-0 Win Over Osasuna
Real Madrid began their 2025-26 LaLiga season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe scored the solitary goal from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, securing a hard-fought win for the Spanish giants.
In his debut as a coach at the Bernabeu, Xabi Alonso fielded several young new signings, with varying but generally positive performances. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, and Franco Mastantuono all made their league debuts for Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold, the English right-back, played the full match, while Huijsen and Carreras, the central and left-back defenders respectively, also put in a solid shift. The trio helped Real Madrid maintain a clean sheet, controlling Osasuna's attack and contributing to a comfortable win.
Mastantuono, the teenage forward, came off the bench in the 68th minute, replacing Brahim Diaz. The Italian-born player was warmly welcomed by the Santiago Bernabeu crowd and nearly scored in the 89th minute, but his shot was saved by the Osasuna goalkeeper. Despite not being able to train with the team, Mastantuono provided an energetic attacking option off the bench, showcasing his potential for future appearances.
With this victory, Real Madrid join Barcelona in making a winning start to the season. Alonso was pleased with his team's performance, praising the debut performances of the four new players. He believes they handled the pressure well without being weighed down by the Bernabeu and expressed excitement about the potential of what they could achieve together.
However, Alonso admitted that Osasuna were a deep team, and Madrid perhaps lacked some freshness against them. Abel Bretones was sent off late in the game, ending Osasuna's hopes of a comeback.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid will play their second game of the campaign against Real Oviedo on Sunday. Alonso believes his team has a solid foundation to build on from their first game and expects more games like this, learning from the experience as they go. He also expressed his excitement about the new Bernabeu and the potential it holds for the team.
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