Real Madrid welcome Osasuna to the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, 19 August, for their opening fixture of the 2025-26 La Liga season. The match kicks off at 9pm CEST (8pm BST), marking the start of Xabi Alonso’s second campaign in charge of Los Blancos.
Real Madrid enter the new season following a demanding summer, with their pre-season schedule compressed due to participation in the Club World Cup. Xabi Alonso's squad have only had two weeks of preparation, but have been training at high intensity in the days leading up to this fixture. New signings are bedding in, including highly rated Franco Mastantuono, who completed his first training session with the team this week. Real Madrid’s attacking options remain arguably the best in the world, led by Kylian Mbappe and Vinícius Junior, who together contributed over forty goals last season. The team’s strength in depth should help compensate for some players still chasing full fitness, such as Eduardo Camavinga and Ferland Mendy.
Osasuna approach this match on the back of a mid-table finish last season and a summer of careful squad development. Manager Jagoba Arrasate faces the challenge of setting his side up to frustrate Real Madrid and exploit rare counter-attacking opportunities. Their pre-season form has been mixed, but experienced striker Ante Budimir remains a focal point up front, having notched 21 league goals last term. Osasuna will be hoping for midfielder Ruben Garcia to overcome a quadriceps issue in time for the trip to the capital; his presence could add creativity in attack.
Recent meetings between the clubs have been largely one-sided, with Real Madrid winning five of the last six encounters, including a 4-0 victory at home last year. Osasuna did manage a 1-1 draw in the most recent fixture, showing their ability to be stubborn defensively when required. At the Bernabeu, however, Real Madrid’s attacking firepower and technical quality usually prevail, and the home side will again be expected to win dominantly.
Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna
