Kylian Mbappe penalty secures narrow win for Real Madrid in La Liga opener

The French forward, who claimed the European Golden Shoe last season with 31 goals in LaLiga, picked up right where he left off. Six minutes after halftime, Mbappe sliced through the Osasuna defence on the right flank before being clumsily fouled by defender Juan Cruz inside the area. Calm under pressure, Mbappe sent goalkeeper Sergio Herrera the wrong way to secure the all-important goal.

The win marked a positive start for new coach Xabi Alonso, who made his full debut after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti following a turbulent end to last season that saw Madrid lose both their domestic and European crowns. Alonso's side maintained their unbeaten streak in league openers, a run stretching back to 2008.

Madrid's lineup showcased some fresh faces, including new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his LaLiga debut after his move from Liverpool, former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, and left-back Alvaro Carreras. However, England midfielder Jude Bellingham was sidelined due to a shoulder operation, expected to keep him out until October.

The match was a test of patience against a well-organized Osasuna side, who finished ninth last season and made life difficult for the hosts. Madrid's attempts in the first half were largely limited to long-range efforts from defenders Huijsen and Eder Militao, both comfortably dealt with by Herrera. Vinícius Junior's clever pass found Mbappe, but the striker's early efforts were off target, and the hosts struggled to penetrate the disciplined Osasuna backline.

Madrid's control was evident, boasting over 70 percent possession, but the final breakthrough came only after sustained pressure. Osasuna's Ante Budimir missed a rare chance with a headed effort over the bar, while young Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono, who made his debut after coming off the bench in the 68th minute, was denied a late goal by Herrera's sharp save.

The game's intensity escalated in stoppage time when Osasuna defender Abel Bretones was shown a straight red card for a reckless arm block on Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia, ensuring Madrid held on to their slim advantage.

Despite the gritty challenge, Osasuna midfielder Ruben García acknowledged Real's dominance: "They controlled the game as expected. We fought hard but couldn't get close enough to threaten their goal. Madrid deserved the win."

Meanwhile, speculation swirled around Madrid's Rodrygo, who remained on the bench for the entirety of the match, amid ongoing transfer rumors.

As LaLiga gets underway, Los Blancos look to build momentum under Alonso's stewardship and close the gap on title defenders Barcelona, who began their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over a depleted Mallorca side. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, stumbled in their opener, surrendering a late lead to lose 2-1 at Espanyol.

With Mbappe leading the line and new talent coming through, Madrid fans can be cautiously optimistic that this season might bring a return to glory.

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