Alexander-Arnold's La Liga Dream Turns Into Nightmare as Real Madrid Scrapes Past Osasuna 1-0
Real Madrid began their 2025–26 campaign with a narrow 1–0 triumph against Osasuna, courtesy of Kylian Mbappé's penalty conversion.
Merely 41 days following their elimination from the FIFA Club World Cup, Los Blancos resumed their La Liga duties at the Santiago Bernabéu. As witnessed frequently during the previous campaign, Mbappé stepped up in crucial moments, netting Real Madrid's sole strike from twelve yards after earning a penalty through his skillful play in the box.
This solitary goal proved sufficient to claim maximum points for the home side, despite Rodrygo remaining unused throughout the encounter. Apart from the Brazilian's ongoing omission, several significant narratives emerged during the 90-minute affair in Spain's capital.
Here are three key observations from Real Madrid's La Liga season opener.
Precise Ball Movement Commands Attention
Should Real Madrid's display versus Osasuna represent their weekly standard, it appears Alonso has transformed the squad's previous tendencies under Carlo Ancelotti. The Madrid outfit frequently allowed opponents extended possession periods during the last season while retreating into defensive positions.
However, against Osasuna, Los Blancos adopted a contrasting approach. They controlled proceedings from kickoff, linking passes seamlessly while forcing their visitors to chase the ball relentlessly. Osasuna barely threatened the midfield zone throughout most encounters, managing only 29% ball control during the evening.
Arda Güler's inclusion in Real Madrid's starting lineup significantly enhanced their possession-oriented approach, particularly with Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić absent from midfield duties. The 20-year-old registered the highest pass completion among midfielders (72) while misplacing merely six attempts across the full match.
When possession was lost, the hosts demonstrated fierce determination to regain control. Vinícius Júnior received enthusiastic appreciation from the capacity Santiago Bernabéu crowd for his pressing intensity and ball-recovery efforts.
Upon the final whistle, Real Madrid had registered 660 successful passes, nearly tripling Osasuna's total completion count.
Jude Bellingham's Missing Influence Becomes Apparent
Real Madrid desperately missed Jude Bellingham's inventive spark. The English midfielder typically serves as the catalyst for unlocking compact defenses, whether through perfectly weighted passes or intelligent runs beyond unsuspecting backlines.
In Bellingham's absence, Real Madrid placed excessive burden on Vinícius Júnior for creative output. When the Brazilian wasn't outmaneuvering defenders to supply Mbappé, the hosts offered minimal attacking menace or dangerous shooting opportunities.
This over-dependence on Vinícius Júnior rendered Real Madrid's offensive play predictable and easily neutralized. No conductor existed to bridge midfield and attack effectively. Consequently, Alonso's talented forward line either manufactured individual opportunities or remained static during possession phases.
Los Blancos have become so dependent on Bellingham's attacking orchestration that they struggled generating clear scoring chances beyond speculative long-range efforts or dead-ball situations.
Franco Mastantuono has the opportunity to address this void in Alonso's formation while Bellingham recovers from shoulder surgery.
Trent Alexander-Arnold Delivers Disappointing Performance
Trent Alexander-Arnold represented Real Madrid's marquee summer signing, yet the ex-Liverpool defender endured a forgettable debut. During his 68-minute appearance, the Englishman contributed minimally to his team's success.
The 26-year-old managed just one successful cross from seven attempts, recorded zero tackles, and lost every individual battle. Alexander-Arnold also missed his target with four attempted long passes.
While his underwhelming performance affected both defensive and offensive phases, Alexander-Arnold's difficulties weren't entirely self-inflicted. Real Madrid concentrated their attacking build-up through the left channel, frequently leaving the fullback isolated without service.
Alexander-Arnold occasionally moved inward to increase his involvement. Had Real Madrid distributed play more evenly, they might have utilized the England international's abundant space on the right flank to better penetrate Osasuna's organized defensive structure.
Alonso must enhance Alexander-Arnold's integration into the team's attacking patterns to unlock this Real Madrid squad's complete capabilities.