Real Madrid arrives at the start of LaLiga 2025/26 with a renewed spirit. Under Xabi Alonso's leadership, the team has worked intensely during the preseason. The Club World Cup and several friendlies helped fine-tune automatisms and adjust the competitive pace.
The goal is clear: keep the superiority from last season and adapt to the new style. Alonso has insisted on pressing as a unit, recovering the ball quickly, and strengthening defensive solidarity. The players seem receptive; every training session is a small battle to earn a spot in the starting eleven.
Signings that make the difference
The club has strengthened its squad with young prospects and experienced players. Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander‑Arnold, Álvaro Carreras, and Franco Mastantuono stand out, each bringing something different. Huijsen is defensive solidity; Alexander‑Arnold, attacking down the flank and vision; Carreras, youth and potential; Mastantuono, creativity and unpredictability.
The preseason helped integrate them; some, like Huijsen and Alexander‑Arnold, have already debuted in the Club World Cup and showed good adaptation. Others, like Mastantuono, are still in the process of adjusting to the team's pace. The advantage is clear: Madrid enters the league with new pieces that already know its system.
A tough start for Osasuna
With this outlook, Osasuna's debut in the league presents a major challenge. Alessio Lisci, the new coach, will begin his tenure facing the champion at Santiago Bernabéu. The Italian acknowledges the difficulty: Osasuna hasn't beaten Madrid at Chamartín since 2011, and history weighs heavily.
Lisci knows his team has to compete intelligently; it's not just about defending, but about seizing any opportunity. For all the rojillos, winning there would be a historic milestone. The pressure is high, but so is the motivation; every training session counts, every detail can make the difference.
Lisci and the mountain of Alonso's advantage
Lisci's message is realistic: Xabi Alonso plays with an advantage. His Madrid arrives with competitive rhythm, integrated signings, and a well-defined style. The squad is top-level, capable of solving matches with individual and collective talent.
However, Lisci doesn't back down; his strategy is based on work, concentration, and trust in his players. "We know it'll be difficult, but with preparation we can show a good image," he says. The mountain is high, but Osasuna's ambition knows no limits, although history favors Madrid, soccer always leaves room for surprise.