In this video we tactically and statistically breakdown Real Madrid’s first match in LaLiga 2025-26
Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna
Real Madrid’s new era under Xabi Alonso began with a narrow but significant 1–0 victory over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu. The result extended Los Blancos’ streak of unbeaten opening-day fixtures to 17 seasons, but the manner of the performance offered as many questions as answers about how Alonso’s side will evolve.
Kylian Mbappé provided the decisive moment, converting a second-half penalty he had won himself, while Abel Bretones’ late red card for Osasuna ensured Madrid saw the game out with minimal threat. Yet beyond the scoreline, Alonso’s debut in La Liga revealed hints of his tactical blueprint — and the structural challenges ahead.
Possession as Control, Not Penetration
Madrid’s dominance of the ball was absolute. They occupied nine of the top ten spots for pass completion, led by Brahim Díaz (100%) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (95.2%). The team’s deep progression came largely through Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras, who not only topped the progressive passing charts (28 and 26 respectively) but also the progressive carries (15 each).
This ensured territorial control: Carreras led all players with 123 touches, while Huijsen added 114. Even in the final third, Madrid’s full-backs were central, Carreras leading with 61 touches — more than Vinícius Júnior (60) or Mbappé (58). Alonso’s positional play encouraged full-backs to step into midfield zones, ensuring vertical circulation but also exposing a familiar problem: breaking down a low block.
Vinícius and the Question of Efficiency
For Vinícius, this match carried echoes of last season. He attempted to stretch Osasuna down the left but too often forced play, taking on defenders without success and ending with just one shot — blazed over. His end product was limited, but his defensive metrics pointed to progress.
The Brazilian registered three tackles, a match-high, and his pressing in the opening phases forced Sergio Herrera into rushed clearances. He also created two chances, hinting that Alonso’s demand for work rate could gradually refine his output. Still, the tension between Vinícius’ instinctive chaos and Alonso’s structured build-up remains unresolved.
The Mbappé Factor
Mbappé’s debut league goal for Madrid was clinical, but his wider contribution stood out. He attempted eight take-ons, delivered two key passes, and made 11 progressive carries. His 71 total touches were the most among the front line, showing how Alonso has already made him the reference point in advanced zones.
Yet Madrid’s reliance on Mbappé’s individualism underscored their struggles in collective chance creation. Against deep defenses, his ability to destabilize lines will remain Madrid’s most dangerous weapon — but the team will need secondary solutions to avoid predictability.
Huijsen and Carreras: The New Foundations
If Alonso’s Madrid is to be defined by anything early, it is by the responsibility handed to younger profiles. Huijsen’s all-round display was emblematic: 93.8% pass completion, 28 progressive passes, 15 progressive carries, two key passes, and a match-leading 1.755 xT gain. His 114 touches — second only to Carreras — highlighted how much Madrid funneled their build-up through him.
Carreras, meanwhile, balanced defensive security with offensive progression. Leading the match in total touches (123) and final-third touches (61), he provided breadth and depth, ensuring Madrid’s structure consistently tilted leftward.
Leadership and Identity in Transition
The absence of Luka Modrić, Dani Carvajal, and the suspended Antonio Rüdiger left Madrid without its traditional leadership core. Fede Valverde wore the armband, but Alonso’s sideline conversations with Tchouaméni during stoppages pointed to the Frenchman as a tactical leader in the pivot role. Controlling rhythm, recycling possession, and positioning himself as a reference point, Tchouaméni is becoming central to Alonso’s emerging identity.
A Functional Start, A Demanding Future
Alonso’s first La Liga game brought three points, possession dominance, and glimpses of a more structured Madrid. But it also highlighted an issue that haunted his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti: breaking down compact defensive blocks.
For now, Mbappé’s penalty papers over inefficiencies, and the platform of Carreras and Huijsen promises long-term stability. Yet the development of Vinícius within this new framework — and the rise of new leaders like Tchouaméni — may ultimately determine whether Alonso’s Madrid can evolve from functional to formidable.
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