Preview: Xabi Alonso takes charge of first Madrid game in LaLiga
Real Madrid are unbeaten on the opening matchday in LaLiga since 2008/09 and their 16-match record looks likely to stay intact when they take on Osasuna this evening.
By Filip Mishov
New coaches in both dugouts
Xabi Alonso‘s maiden, but curtailed pre-season at the helm of Real Madrid was perceived as far from ideal preparation after the hurtful defeat to PSG at the FIFA Club World Cup and ahead of the new season, although LaLiga’s runners-up comfortably won their friendlies, putting four past Leganés in Spain and four past WSG Tirol in Austria, respectively.
Furthermore, the Madrid’s squad is yet to be finalised with Rodrygo‘s future far from certain and Florentino Pérez always on the lookout for fresh additions.
In the away dugout at the Bernabéu, Alessio Lisci is set to make his debut as Osasuna’s head coach after the Italian replaced Vicente Moreno, who led Los Rojillos to a ninth-place finish in Spain’s top-tier last season. However, the newly-appointed tactician endured a difficult start to life as the Basque club lost three matches, drew twice and won only once during pre-season, which does not spark confidence ahead of the trip to the capital.
Key players
It is hard to look past by Kylian Mbappé as Real Madrid’s main man after the lethal Frenchman took over the iconic no. 10 shirt upon Luka Modric‘s release and amid Vinicius Junior‘s long-term uncertainty. Also, France’s captain scored incredible 44 goals in all competitions last season and claimed the Pichichi Trophy as LaLiga’s top scorer with 31 goals in the league alone. Additionally, the 26-year-old scored an impressive brace, recorded an assist, and earned a match high FotMob rating of 9.4 in the final pre-season test against Tirol a week ago.
Alessio Lisci’s Osasuna squad is in desperate need of creativity in the final third after Bryan Zaragoza left Pamplona at the end of last season, and interestingly, Osasuna tapped up Real Madrid Castilla to find a replacement and have consequently signed Victor Muñoz. The 22-year-old forward was Castilla’s second top scorer last season with 11 goals only behind Gonzalo García (25), and the Spaniard was also part of the squad at the Club World Cup over the summer. With that being said, Raúl’s protegee is expected to play an important role in Osasuna’s first team this season and beyond.
Team news
Los Blancos’ four new signings (Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Franco Mastantuono) are fit and available, although the Argentinean prodigy only joined a few days ago and he might have to wait before making his debut. Antonio Rüdiger is carrying over a suspension from last season, while Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Endrick are all injured. Unlike Xabi Alonso, Alessio Lisci has been given a clean bill of health at Osasuna and has a full squad to pick from.
Prediction
Given Osasuna’s last win at the Bernabéu dates back to 2004 and the corresponding game last season finished 4-0 to the hosts, anything other than a winning start for Xabi Alonso & co. would be a big surprise.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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