Real Madrid kick-started the La Liga 2025/26 campaign with a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Tuesday as Kylian Mbappe scored the solitary goal of the match from the penalty spot.
While Los Blancos were better than their counterparts on each and every metric, Osasuna did exceptional well in holding fort and not conceding a goal until the 51st minute when Juan Cruz handed a penalty to the hosts after bringing down Mbappe in the penalty box.
At first, it seemed like a legitimate penalty decision as Mbappe stepped up and scored from the spot. However, later there were questions on whether it was a clear penalty or not.
Osasuna manager Alessio Lisci has also slammed the match referee and questioned VAR officials for not checking the penalty call as replays highlighted Mbappe stepping on the Osasuna defender first, before he catches the Frenchman.
“I thought it was a clear penalty in person, but looking at it closely, you have to analyze whether Mbappe first stepped on Juan or whether Juan hit Mbappé with his right foot. It seems to me that Mbappe first hooked Juan. There is no penalty,” Lisci explained to Diario AS.
Osasuna were not happy with the penalty decision, and neither were they impressed with Abel Bretones’ sending off late in injury time as they criticized both calls on their official X account.
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What did Xabi Alonso say after the win over Osasuna?
Following the win, Alonso hailed the new signings as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen started for Real Madrid with Franco Mastantuono making a late introduction from the bench.
Foto: Divulgação/Real Madrid
“[The new signings] were good, everyone has landed on their feet, ” Alonso told Real Madrid TV. “Those who played at the Club World Cup, and Franco [Mastantuono], who made his debut today, are players we’ll have here for years. Neither the shirt nor being at the Bernabéu weighed on them.”
“They did well, maybe not spectacular, but they were serious. There was no mistakes or nerves,” Alonso added in his post-match conference.
“There are positives, starting with the result. After two weeks of training, against a team that had a longer preseason, things were missing. There were good things, and other things to improve. It’s a long road.”
Despite Real Madrid coming out as victors against Osasuna, fans were critical of Los Blancos as they have high expectations from Alonso, especially after last season where they couldn’t land a single major trophy under Carlo Ancelotti.
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