Mbappe penalty gives Real Madrid winning start under Xabi Alonso in LaLiga opener
Kylian Mbappe marked his LaLiga debut with Real Madrid by scoring the decisive penalty in a narrow 1-0 victory over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. The French superstar's second-half spot-kick secured three vital points for new manager Xabi Alonso in his first competitive league match in charge of Los Blancos.
Real Madrid struggled to penetrate Osasuna's resolute defensive structure during a frustrating first half, with the visitors clearly set up to frustrate their hosts and potentially escape with a point. The breakthrough finally arrived six minutes into the second period when Mbappe was fouled by Juan Cruz inside the penalty area, earning his side a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward stepped up confidently and sent Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera the wrong way, giving Real Madrid the lead they had been searching for throughout the opening 45 minutes. Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Mbappe reflected on the tactical battle his team faced.
"In the first half we didn't have space and then in the second half we scored early," Mbappe explained. "We had more chances and we had more control, we expected to score the second but it didn't come."
Despite dominating possession and territory for large periods, Real Madrid found it difficult to create clear-cut opportunities against Vicente Moreno's well-organized Osasuna side. The visitors' defensive discipline nearly earned them an unlikely point, with their compact setup limiting the hosts to mostly speculative efforts from distance during the opening period.
Eder Militao came closest for Real Madrid in the first half with a powerful long-range strike that forced Herrera into a smart save, highlighting the home side's struggles to find space in the final third. Alonso's team enjoyed plenty of possession and produced some slick passing combinations, but Osasuna's defensive resolve appeared capable of withstanding the pressure.
The penalty breakthrough changed the dynamic of the contest, forcing Osasuna to abandon their cautious approach and venture forward in search of an equalizer. This tactical shift created more space for Real Madrid to exploit, though they were unable to add the crucial second goal that would have made their evening more comfortable.
Arda Guler nearly doubled Real Madrid's advantage with a curling effort from outside the penalty area that flashed just over Herrera's crossbar, while 18-year-old Argentine midfielder Franco Mastantuono made his Real Madrid debut as a substitute and almost marked the occasion with a goal when his acute-angled shot was saved at the near post.
Osasuna's best opportunity to salvage a point came when Ante Budimir found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box but directed his header over the crossbar, wasting what would have been an undeserved equalizer given their limited attacking ambition throughout most of the encounter.
The victory became even more crucial given Barcelona's impressive 3-0 triumph over Mallorca on Saturday, meaning Real Madrid needed to match their rivals' winning start to avoid falling behind early in the title race. Alonso achieved this objective despite missing several key players through injury and suspension, including Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick, and Antonio Ruediger.
The new Real Madrid manager utilized three of the club's summer signings in his starting lineup, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras all featuring in the back four. The tactical experiment proved successful as Real Madrid kept a clean sheet, though the performance highlighted areas that will need improvement as the season progresses.
Osasuna's frustration boiled over in the closing stages when Abel Bretones received a red card for an off-the-ball foul on Gonzalo Garcia, ensuring their difficult evening ended on an even more disappointing note. The dismissal summed up the visitors' inability to cope with Real Madrid's sustained pressure after falling behind.
Reflecting on the victory, Mbappe acknowledged the tactical challenge his new team had faced while expressing satisfaction with the winning start to their LaLiga campaign.
"It was important for us to start with a win at home, we knew it was going to be difficult," Mbappe said. "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."
SportsLigue