Real Madrid commenced their 2025-26 La Liga campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé converting a second-half penalty to secure the win. The match marked a winning debut for new manager Xabi Alonso in his first league game in charge of the hosts.

The decisive moment arrived in the 51st minute when Mbappé, displaying his signature agility, was brought down in the box by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz after a neat cutback move. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Mbappé confidently stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way, sparking celebrations at the Bernabéu. The goal was Mbappé's first of the season and his first wearing Real Madrid's iconic number 10 jersey.

Despite controlling large portions of the game with 70% possession, Real Madrid struggled to break down a resilient Osasuna defense. They only managed five shots on target, including the penalty. Real Madrid dominated the game from the opening whistle, stringing together pass after pass while their opponents chased after the ball. Osasuna could not even come close to the halfway line for most of the game and mustered just 29% possession on the night.

Alonso started the match with three of the club's new signings: left-back Álvaro Carreras, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, and central defender Dean Huijsen. Another debutant, 18-year-old Argentinian midfielder Franco Mastantuono, came on as a substitute in the second half and almost made an immediate impact, forcing a save from the Osasuna goalkeeper.

Osasuna, managed by new head coach Alessio Lisci, proved to be a tough opponent, setting up defensively and frustrating Real Madrid for much of the game. In the 85th minute, Osasuna forward Ante Budimir missed a chance to equalize, heading over the target from close range. The visitors' frustration eventually led to Abel Bretones being sent off in added time for a foul on Gonzalo García.

Speaking after the match, Mbappé emphasized the importance of starting with a win at home, acknowledging the difficulty of the encounter. Alonso also expressed his satisfaction with the result but admitted that the team still needed to improve in certain areas to achieve greater stability. He said it was special to be back at Real Madrid as a coach and hopes it was the first of many victories.

Real Madrid's victory was crucial as they aim to reclaim the La Liga title from Barcelona, who opened their season with a 3-0 win at Mallorca. The win also means that Madrid are now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008.