Mbappe leads Real Madrid to narrow win against Osasuna in La Liga

Real Madrid defeated a tenacious Osasuna 1-0 to begin their winning campaign in La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso with Kylian Mbappe scoring from the penalty spot.

The French striker, who won the European Golden Shoe last season, was fouled by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz in the area that gave him the lead in the opening half of the second half on Tuesday.

Alonso’s first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu was enough to earn the points, leaving Real Madrid without a win in their opening game since 2008 in the league.

Alonso remarked, “It was special and unforgettable to be back here as a coach.” “Hopefully, this was our first victory,” he said.

The outcome was the first sign of the end. To continue moving forward, we still require some things that will give us stability.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, and Alvaro Carreras, the other summer signings, made their La Liga debuts following their moves from Liverpool.

However, Madrid were without England international Jude Bellingham, who is scheduled to remain out until October as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

After renouncing both their domestic and European crowns last season, Madrid are hoping to turn the tables on a disappointing Carlo Ancelotti era.

Alonso’s side showed patience in the first half against an Osasuna team that finished ninth last term, with the hosts largely reliant on long-range efforts from Huijsen and Eder Militao.

Sergio Herrera, the Osasuna goalkeeper, was on par with both, while Mbappe struggled to connect cleanly after Vinicius Junior picked him up before curving a second shot wide as Madrid struggled to defeat their foes.

Six minutes after half-time, Mbappe fell after Cruz attempted to pass the defender with a clumsy challenge, but he was denied the only goal.

Mbappe, who scored 31 goals in his first season in Spain, proved ready for the new campaign when he fired the wrong way against Herrera.

Midway through the second half, Alonso gave Argentine teenager Franco Mastantuono his first start as Madrid’s dominant force and rarely appeared troubled.

Ante Budimir headed over in a eponymous situation for Mastantuono, but Herrera later turned down Mastantuono.