Mbappé shines as Real Madrid edge Osasuna in tense opener
The Santiago Bernabéu witnessed a lively and tense start to the new LaLiga season as Real Madrid secured a 1–0 victory over Osasuna. The spotlight, inevitably, was on Kylian Mbappé, and he did not disappoint. The French star scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot early in the second half, a moment that not only broke the deadlock but also set the tone for Madrid’s new era under Xabi Alonso.
The game itself was far from easy for the home side. Osasuna came to Madrid with a clear plan—defend with discipline and frustrate the hosts. For the opening 45 minutes, that strategy worked almost perfectly. Real Madrid had possession, they pressed high, and they forced errors, but clear chances were scarce. Vinícius tried to break through on the left, while Brahim and Güler looked for space between the lines, yet Osasuna’s defense stood tall. The half ended goalless, and the tension inside the stadium grew.
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Everything changed shortly after the break. Mbappé, already showing why Madrid made him their marquee signing, forced a penalty with one of his trademark bursts into the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and the Frenchman calmly slotted home, sending the Bernabéu into celebration. It wasn’t just the goal—it was the authority with which he took responsibility, the confidence of a player ready to lead this Madrid side.
Still, the match was far from settled. Osasuna refused to collapse, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Budimir had a golden opportunity late on, only for Courtois to intervene at the crucial moment. Substitute Franco Mastantuono, the young Argentine making his debut, almost doubled the lead with a clever piece of skill that drew cheers from the Madrid faithful. His entrance was symbolic too—a sign of Madrid’s commitment to mixing star power with emerging talent.
The closing stages brought controversy. A red card shown to Osasuna’s Bretones for an off-the-ball incident sparked debate among pundits, while earlier appeals for fouls on Vinícius and Mbappé had also been questioned. Former referees weighed in, arguing whether the calls were too harsh or too soft. In the end, though, the scoreline remained unchanged.
The whistle blew after six added minutes, sealing Madrid’s first three points of the season. For Xabi Alonso, it was a successful debut on the league stage, though the performance left room for growth—stronger in defense than in attack, still searching for fluency. For Osasuna, there was frustration, but also pride in how close they had come to upsetting the champions-to-be.
Above all, the night belonged to Mbappé. Wearing the number 10 shirt, he looked sharp, determined, and ready to be the leader many expected. His goal decided the contest, his presence lifted the team, and his hunger for more was clear. As one commentator put it, “The Mbappé era in Madrid has begun.” And with that, LaLiga’s curtain was raised in dramatic fashion.
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