Kylian Mbappé’s second-half penalty secured for Real Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 home victory against Osasuna in their opening La Liga game of the season on Tuesday, giving Xabi Alonso a winning start in his first league match in charge of the hosts.
After struggling to break down a stubborn Osasuna defence in the opening half, Mbappé won the penalty and converted from the spot six minutes after the break to give Real the lead, but the home side were unable to increase their advantage.
“In the first half we didn’t have space and then in the second half we scored early,” Mbappé told Real Madrid TV. “We had more chances and we had more control, we expected to score the second but it didn’t come.”
The visitors had Abel Bretones sent off in added time for a foul off the ball on Gonzalo García as Alonso’s side got their league campaign off to a winning but underwhelming start as they look to wrestle back the league title from Barcelona.
Alonso’s side, whose last competitive game ended in a 4-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals, completely dominated against a visiting side clearly content to sit back and perhaps come away with a draw, which they almost managed.
