🧠 Five lessons from Xabi Alonso’s debut | OneFootball

Real Madrid not only kicked off the new season yesterday, but also a new era under the direction of Xabi Alonso. This gives us even more reason to focus on the new white proposal and draw some initial impressions.

This leaves us with the white victory against Osasuna.

Mbappé sharpens up

The Frenchman returned to being the key: he forced the penalty and executed it with coldness, leaving several excellent plays behind and the feeling, confirmed by Alonso in a press conference, that this season he wants to put the team on his back.

Xabi Alonso: the ingredients are there

The coach has already shown a more pressing and compact team, clear signs of his style, although in attack the necessary fluidity to break Osasuna's low defense was lacking.

It's always a problem for anyone to open up teams like that, and even more so for a Madrid still in pre-season work.

Many defensive certainties

Carreras, Huijsen and Alexander-Arnold brought the solidity lost last season.

Carvajal proved that he is still the owner of the right flank and that the competition with Trent will be of a very high level.

Mastantuono raised smiles

Without making a spectacular debut, the Argentine left signs of the ambitious, intelligent and competitive player he is. Rodrygo has many reasons to be worried and that's good for Madrid.

Osasuna holds up well, but Bretones' red card complicates everything

The Navarros competed in an orderly fashion until the end, although the expulsion in extra time ended up tarnishing their initial disciplined approach

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 Florencia Tan Jun - 2025 Getty Images