MADRID: Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty earned Real Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over dogged Osasuna in their opening La Liga game of the season on Tuesday, giving coach Xabi Alonso a winning start in his first league match in charge of the hosts.

After struggling to break down a stubborn Osasuna defence in the opening half, France striker Mbappe, last season’s European Golden Shoe winner, won the penalty after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz and converted from the spot six minutes after the break.

It was enough to seal the points in Alonso’s first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Real now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008.

“You can see that Kylian wants to do even more after this first year where he did great things,” said Alonso.

Mbappe finished as La Liga’s top scorer with 31 goals in his first season in Spain, and is now wearing the number 10 shirt vacated by Luka Modric after the Croatian left for AC Milan last month.

“I don’t know if it’s linked to the new number or not, or simply to his desire to win, but he wants to improve individual and collective performance and inspire his team-mates,” added Alonso. “You can see his desire every day. Today he created those decisive moments that enable us to win matches.”

Real had a shortened pre-season after their run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be postponed to a later date was rejected.

“To start on the right foot is key in La Liga. We know we weren’t well prepared,” defender Dani Carvajal told DAZN. “But we basically didn’t suffer and it was a complete display.”

Spain international Carvajal came off the bench for his first league appearance since October after a long-term knee injury, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half.

Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras other summer arrivals included in the starting line-up.

Real though were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from a operation to solve a recurrent shoulder issue.

Real are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquishing both their domestic and European crowns last season.

Alonso’s side, whose last competitive game ended in a 4-0 defeat to Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup, completely dominated against a visiting side clearly content to sit back and perhaps come away with a draw, which they almost managed.

Real enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes with lots of slick passing, but their only real chances came through shots from distance, with Eder Militao’s powerful strike forcing Osasuna keeper Sergio Herrera into a decent save.

All Osasuna’s defensive work was undone shortly after the break when a foul by Juan Cruz on Mbappe was punished with a penalty, and Real’s French forward stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way as the hosts finally found the net.

The goal forced Osasuna out of their shell somewhat, while Real pushed to find a second goal to kill the game off, with Arda Guler unleashing a shot from outside the area which zipped just over the bar.

Alonso handed 18-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono his debut midway through the second half as Real controlled the game and seldom looked troubled.

Ante Budimir headed over in a rare opportunity for Osasuna and Mastantuono was denied late on by Herrera.

Osasuna finished the match with 10 men with Abel Bretones sent off in stoppage time for throwing an arm to block the run of Gonzalo Garcia.

“In the first half we didn’t have space and then in the second half we scored early,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV. “We had more chances and we had more control, we expected to score the second but it didn’t come.

“It was important for us to start with a win at home, we knew it was going to be difficult. Osasuna had a clear plan to wait for us and they had Budimir. We are happy with the victory and we are going for more.”

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2025