Real Madrid and Osasuna kick off the 2025-26 LaLiga season at the Santiago Bernabeu, a challenging venue for the 'Rojillos'. In April, it marked 21 years since their last victory at the white coliseum.
On April 11, 2004, an audacious Osasuna stunned the Santiago Bernabeu, securing a sensational result: three goals and three vital points. Little did they know, that would be their final defiance at the 'Merengue' coliseum. Since then, Real Madrid has remained undefeated against Osasuna on home turf.
21 years later, Real Madrid and Osasuna debut in the league at the same venue. Both dugouts also feature new managers: Alessio Lisci and Xabi Alonso, who previously managed the Whites in the Club World Cup but now faces his first league match in the top flight. The Italian would relish repeating the feat of the tenacious side managed by Javier Aguirre.
Valdo, Pablo Garcia – who would join the whites the following year – and Moha were the scorers against Carlos Queiroz's Real Madrid. Just over a month later, Queiroz departed after a dismal season that saw Real Madrid finish fourth, a period often referred to as the 'Zidanes and Pavones' era. Stars like Beckham, Figo, Ronaldo, and Raul fell to a spirited Osasuna side featuring iconic players such as Cesar Cruchaga, Josetxo, Patxi Punal, John Aloisi, and Chengue Morales.
That Pamplona-based team would evolve in the following years, eventually reaching the Champions League. The Madrid-Osasuna clashes (and vice-versa) became fiercely contested and high-tension encounters. At El Sadar, they recall the formidable Savo Milošević, who threatened to deny Sergio Ramos a place in the World Cup. Nor is the scandalous robbery by Perez Burrull against Osasuna in 2009 forgotten; the referee failed to award two blatant penalties to Juanfran and, to compound matters, sent him off for a second yellow card, accusing him of simulation. He allegedly told Juanfran, “If you dive, at least do it properly.”
At that time, Madrid did indeed suffer several defeats in Pamplona. They lost in 2009 and 2011, and in their last 13 visits, they have also accumulated five draws. However, it has been a different story at the Bernabeu. They have met 17 times in the league since that 'Osasuna triumph', with the 'Rojillos' managing only three draws – one in 2005 (1-1) and two in 2021 and 2022 (0-0 and 1-1). The remaining matches have seen 14 victories for Real Madrid, with a goal difference of 46 scored and ten conceded.
A notable 7-1 defeat in 2011 is remembered, a match in which Xabi Alonso played under the management of Jose Mourinho. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, and Benzema bagged a brace. Another memorable result was the 5-2 win in 2016, with goals from the '7', Danilo, Ramos, Pepe, and Modrić. Furthermore, Osasuna's last two visits to the capital both ended in 4-0 defeats. This Tuesday, Lisci will do everything possible to break the streak and conquer 'Merengue' territory once again.