Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna (Mbappé). Three points in the first game… This is the first immediate reaction of the season. Tune in for: Player ratings, interview quotes and a ManagingMadrid podcast.
All eyes were on the line-up this evening as Real Madrid kicked their La Liga campaign off at home to Osasuna. Xabi Alonso went with four at the back, handing Trent Alexander-Arnold Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras their first league starts for Los Blancos. Rodrygo Goes was on the bench, alongside the revelation of Castillla’s pre-season, Thiago Pitarch, for the first time. Fede Valverde captained Real Madrid on day one.
The first half may have ended goalless, but the feel of Real Madrid’s game had clearly taken a tactical shift forward. Perhaps the most impressive elements came from being out of possession, and the desire shown to gain back the ball in quick time, keeping the game at a high intensity for the majority of play in that first 45. In terms of chances, a Kylian Mbappé snapshot and a couple of penalty shouts were all Madrid could muster up. They would have to show more in the second half to start strong.
That goal would come early in the second half, as Real Madrid had a penalty, which was converted by Kylian Mbappé to give his side an important goal. Arda Güler then came close to adding another, but the game started to drift in the same direction of the first half. The home side didn’t look threatened by Osasuna, and maintained a decent standard throughout, but the chances were not free flowing. Osasuna could have spoilt the party late on – but thankfully the ball flew over the bar. They ended up spoiling their own game, with a red card to finish the game with ten men. Full-time, 1-0 to Real Madrid to give them a winning start. What did you think about Xabi Alonso’s first game?
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