Real Madrid opened their season by making it 21 games unbeaten in LaLiga against CA Osasuna after a 1-0 win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night.
There was a slightly different look about Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos side, with Antonio Rüdiger out through suspension and Jude Bellingham, Endrick and Eduardo Camavinga all injured.
A win was a must after Barcelona’s opening day victory over Mallorca, and Real’s intent was clear from the first whistle.
They’d already played 54 passes in the first three minutes compared to six from the visitors, whose back five were completely up against it in the early stages.
The intricate passing from the hosts was in stark contrast to a more rudimentary long ball game from the team from Pamplona, though chances for the hosts were still at a premium.
A superb slaloming run from Kylian Mbappé was stopped in its tracks after a crunching challenge from Enzo Boyomo, whilst long-range efforts from Dean Huijsen and Éder Militão were palmed to safety by Osasuna keeper, Sergio Herrera.
As the half wore on there was little variation in Real’s play, and despite having 79 per cent possession, it was Vinícíus’ wayward effort on 38 that more than summed up the collective frustration at HT.
The opening few minutes of the second half saw Los Rojillos taking the game to their opponents.
However, a clumsy sliding challenge on 50’ from Juan Cruz on Mbappé afforded the Frenchman the opportunity to put Real ahead from the penalty spot.
An opportunity that he duly took, sending Herrera the wrong way.
Osasuna were a lot more underway after going behind, allowing Huijsen to regularly stride forward and supplement the attack at every opportunity.
A stunning Osasuna transfer on 63 almost brought an equaliser from Abel Bretones, but it was only a brief respite from a continued attacking assault from Real.
To the visitors’ great credit, they kept pushing forward and with only one goal in it with eight to play, may have fancied their chances of silencing the Bernabéu, but all hopes were lost when they were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time.
Match statsOpta by Stats PerformDespite that spirited second-half showing, in which ex-Real man, Victor Muñoz, was excellent, this is the 17th LaLiga season in a row that Real Madrid haven’t lost their opening day fixture (W12, D5).
After just two away wins last season, the Osasuna support would’ve perhaps expected a loss to underway the new campaign.
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