Real Madrid must answer fresh tactical questions after shock 2-1 loss at El Sadar

The defeat matters because it forces immediate scrutiny of how real madrid functions when its so-called Mbappé–Courtois formula falters: Osasuna took a 2-1 victory at El Sadar — their first there in 15 years — and left the visitors exposed despite a momentary revival. The result sharpens doubts about creativity, defensive moments that change games, and selection choices that already included long-awaited returns.

Real Madrid’s balance, exposed: consequences for selection and creativity

When the defensive moment that set up Budimir’s opener arrived — a stamp on Budimir involving Courtois that was later clear in the replay — the game tilted. The broader takeaway in recent commentary is blunt: the team leans heavily on Courtois and Mbappé as pillars, and when that pairing is off the team shows structural fragility. The match also underlined that creativity often funnels through Güler; in entrenched contests like this one, the absence of sustained creative spark leaves space for opponents to dictate tempo.

Match snapshot: how a 2-1 scoreline unfolded at El Sadar

Osasuna beat Real Madrid 2-1 thanks to two decisive finishes from Ante Budimir and Raúl García de Haro. Budimir’s goal arrived from a penalty awarded after a play involving a stamp by Courtois that, on replay, was described as a clear pisotón. Vinicius leveled for the visitors before the 75th minute after a tense left-sided run and a cross from Fede Valverde that the Brazilian tucked in with his right boot. Raúl García de Haro then struck in the 89th minute to hand Osasuna the win — their first at this venue in 15 years.

Players, minutes and lineup context that mattered

Arbeloa’s starting eleven included notable returns: Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, both recovering from serious knee injuries, were in the lineup after not starting since 2 December 2023 in the 2-0 win over Granada at Chamartín. Valverde’s intervention — a direct, line-breaking run that created the assist for Vinicius — temporarily rescued Madrid’s momentum and left the side with about 15 minutes to try a comeback. Budimir was substituted in the 66th minute and received a monumental ovation on his way off.

Refereeing, VAR and the mood in the stadium

The penalty decision and VAR review dominated post-match conversation: multiple voices noted that, in live action, the penalty did not immediately appear obvious, yet replay showed the stamp. Arbeloa addressed the matter in a press conference after the defeat at El Sadar, offering reflections that surprised many and pointing to two tight offsides that went against his team. He also mentioned player management choices, saying he preferred not to risk Valverde because the player "lleva mucho con molestias. "

• Osasuna’s manager Lisci described the mood as exultant and said "El equipo quiere más y eso me encanta. "
• Commentators and columnists such as Tomás Roncero, Uxue M. de Zúñiga and Álvaro Benito produced opinion pieces reacting to the game and tactical issues.
• Stadium atmosphere included an ovation for Budimir at his substitution and hostile chants from the Indar Gorri section aimed at Asencio; the rest of the stands booed visiting players including the central defender and Vinicius.
• Match pattern: Pamplona remains a difficult away ground for the visitors, and this fixture in the 2025–26 season repeated uncomfortable moments seen in an earlier match referenced as happening in Lisboa, with Madrid winning the coin toss and choosing to change ends.

Here’s the part that matters: the combination of a decisive refereeing moment, the lack of a sustained creative second option when Güler’s influence is limited, and the returning-but-fragile status of key defenders creates a tighter margin for error for the coaching staff.

What’s easy to miss is how much individual moments swung the match: a single replayed stamp, a line-breaking run from Valverde, and a late finish by Raúl García de Haro together decided a game that otherwise looked tight and contested.

Key takeaways:

• Osasuna won 2-1 at El Sadar; goals came from Budimir (penalty) and Raúl García de Haro (89th minute), with Vinicius equalizing before minute 75.
• The penalty followed a play that involved Courtois and appeared clearly as a pisotón on replay.
• Carvajal and Alaba returned as starters after long spells out; their last starts were on 2 December 2023 in a 2-0 home win over Granada.
• Budimir was substituted off in minute 66 to applause; the stadium included hostile chants toward Asencio and boos aimed at visiting players.

The real question now is how selection, reliance on certain player pairings and game management will be adjusted after a loss that combined refereeing debate with tactical shortfalls. Recent commentary highlighted that when the Mbappé–Courtois axis fails to function, the team struggles to impose its usual control.

Unclear in the provided context: some brief celebratory and reflective quotes in match coverage are unattributed in the source excerpts, including several lines grouped under headings like "Sensaciones, " "Golazo" and "Revisión. " Those lines express joy at the long-awaited win, describe a practiced individual move and reference modern VAR interventions, but the speaker for each quote is unclear in the provided context.