Three Things We Learned From Real Madrid’s Costly Defeat to Osasuna

Real Madrid’s perfect start under caretaker coach Álvaro Arbeloa has come to an abrupt halt after Sunday’s surprise loss to Osasuna, a result that leaves Los Blancos searching for answers and precious points already slipping away in the 2024-25 La Liga title race. The defeat, Madrid’s first since Arbeloa stepped into the interim role, reshuffles the early-season landscape and underlines several pressing issues for the record European champions.

1. The Arbeloa Era Has Met Its First Reality Check The former club captain had overseen a seamless transition in the dugout, guiding the team to consecutive victories and optimism that the ship would stay steady. Dropping points against an industrious Osasuna side, however, exposes how thin the margin for error remains while the club finalizes a permanent managerial appointment. The result will test Arbeloa’s ability to lift morale quickly and keep a stacked dressing room united through an unexpected stumble.

2. La Liga’s Competitive Pack Shows No Mercy Osasuna’s triumph serves as the latest reminder that the league’s mid-table outfits no longer arrive at the Bernabéu hoping for a mere respectable scoreline. They come to compete, press, and punish any complacency. Madrid’s inability to break down a disciplined back line or respond after falling behind suggests that even a star-studded lineup can be neutralized when intensity dips. Every point lost in matches like this could weigh heavily come May.

3. Early Slips Magnify Long-Term Pressure Although the calendar has only just flipped to autumn, the table never sleeps. Dropping points at this stage tightens the chase for Barcelona, Girona, and Atlético, giving rivals an early sniff of vulnerability. With Champions League fixtures set to pile up, Madrid can ill-afford to let domestic setbacks snowball; squad rotation, recovery protocols, and tactical tweaks will all be scrutinized more than ever as Arbeloa attempts to steady the course.

The road ahead does not get easier, but how Real Madrid respond to this first setback under their interim boss will shape both the club’s immediate fortunes and the narrative surrounding Arbeloa’s candidacy for the permanent post.