Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Real Madrid opened their La Liga campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 win over a resilient Osasuna, securing victory in Xabi Alonso’s first match as head coach.
The French striker, last season’s European Golden Shoe winner, settled the contest early in the second half on Tuesday after being brought down in the box by defender Juan Cruz. Mbappé sent goalkeeper Sergio Herrera the wrong way to begin his second year in Spain with a familiar scoring touch.
“It was special to be back here as a coach — unforgettable,” Alonso said after his touchline debut at the Santiago Bernabéu. “There were positives, starting with the result. We still need a few things that will give us stability to keep progressing.”
Alonso included all three major summer arrivals — Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras in his starting XI. The new coach was, however, without Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October following surgery on a recurrent shoulder problem.
Madrid are aiming to turn the page after a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era, having surrendered both their La Liga title and Champions League crown last season.
Osasuna, who finished ninth last year, frustrated Madrid for long periods. The hosts’ best openings in the first half came from long-range efforts by centre-backs Huijsen and Éder Militão, both comfortably saved by Herrera.
Mbappé also dragged a shot wide after a pass from Vinícius Júnior, and later failed to make clean contact from close range as Madrid struggled to break through.
The breakthrough arrived six minutes after the restart when Cruz clipped Mbappé as the forward tried to cut inside. Mbappé, La Liga’s top scorer last season with 31 goals, dispatched the penalty with ease.
Alonso introduced 18-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono for his debut midway through the second half, and Madrid managed the game comfortably from there.
Osasuna rarely threatened, though Ante Budimir headed over from a late chance, and Herrera denied Mastantuono in the closing minutes. The visitors ended the match with 10 men after Abel Bretones was shown a stoppage-time red card for swinging an arm at Gonzalo García.
The win extends Madrid’s run of avoiding defeat in their opening league fixture to 17 consecutive seasons, dating back to 2008.
