Match Overview
After a narrow victory against Osasuna in LaLiga’s season opener, Xabi Alonso expressed his satisfaction with the performances of Real Madrid’s fresh recruits, particularly highlighting the debut of Franco Mastantuono. The match, held on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, ended with a 1-0 scoreline in favor of the home team, thanks to a penalty scored by Kylian Mbappé after he was fouled by Osasuna’s Juan Cruz. Additionally, the match saw a red card issued to Osasuna’s Abel Bretones during stoppage time.
Player Performances
Alonso commended the contributions of his new players, stating on Real Madrid TV,
“Everyone has landed on their feet.”
He specifically noted that Mastantuono, who celebrated his 18th birthday just days prior to the match, appeared to transition smoothly into the squad after training with his teammates for the first time on Friday.
“He looks good and I thought he could contribute; he had some good minutes and left a positive impact,”
Alonso added, referring to Mastantuono’s energetic display after coming off the bench.
Three other summer signings, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras, were part of the starting lineup. Although Alonso felt the new recruits performed well without shining, he acknowledged that the team, which held a significant possession advantage, needed to refine their ability to create more scoring opportunities.
Coaching Insights
In his post-match remarks, he reflected on the challenges of beginning the season after only two weeks of training, particularly against an opponent with a more established preseason routine.
“There were good aspects and areas we need to work on. It’s a long journey ahead,”
Alonso stated while emphasizing the importance of the win.
Meanwhile, Mbappé noted that the team’s strategy under Alonso involves maintaining possession and controlling play, suggesting that while there are improvements to be made, the overall performance and results were encouraging. Real Madrid is eager to improve upon last season’s outcomes, which ended without major silverware under previous coach Carlo Ancelotti.
