When Mbappé and Courtois Fail, Real Madrid Have Nowhere to Hide
Real Madrid dropped points in Pamplona as a Courtois blunder gifted Osasuna the lead and an off-colour Mbappé offered precious little in response.
A familiar nightmare in Pamplona. Real Madrid came unstuck at El Sadar as the two men they rely on most both let them down on the same afternoon — and the cracks in this squad were impossible to ignore.
A Courtois Howler Sets the Tone
If you’re going to have a bad day, having your goalkeeper give away a penalty is a decent way to start it. Thibaut Courtois stamped on Ante Budimir, the referee pointed to the spot, and Osasuna had their goal. From that moment on, Madrid were chasing the game in one of the trickiest away venues in La Liga — a place that’s been giving them grief since long before most of the current squad were born.
Mbappé: Still Missing in Action
This was supposed to be the season Kylian Mbappé announced himself in Spain. And yet, for what feels like the umpteenth week running, he was barely in the game. The whole Madrid setup leans heavily on the Courtois-Mbappé axis — keeper distributes, Kylian runs, chaos ensues for the opposition. When that formula breaks down, as it did here, Madrid look a completely different animal. A much less frightening one.
Valverde Does His Best Pirri Impression
When the football isn’t working, Federico Valverde tends to just… ignore the football. The Uruguayan threw the tactical manual out the window, burst through lines like a man who’d been personally insulted, and teed up Vinicius to equalise. Pure heart, pure bottle. It got Madrid level, but it wasn’t enough to win the game.
The Güler Problem (or Lack Thereof)
One of the clearest takeaways from Pamplona:
- When Arda Güler isn’t on the pitch or isn’t at his best, Madrid have almost no one else who can unlock a low block with genuine creativity
- Osasuna matched Madrid physically in midfield, and without Güler pulling strings, the visitors had no Plan B
- This over-reliance is going to cost them in big moments if it isn’t addressed
Carvajal and Alaba Return
There was at least some positive news on the team sheet. Both Dani Carvajal and David Alaba started — their first appearances together in the XI since December 2023, both having gone through serious knee injuries. Neither had an easy afternoon against a physical Osasuna side, but getting those two back is a proper boost for Madrid’s season.
Budimir — Absolute Menace, and Brilliant For It
A word for the man who caused Madrid all sorts of bother. Ante Budimir is one of those strikers who doesn’t get half the credit he deserves. He’s not your glamour signing or your social media darling, but he’s a serious footballer — goals, hold-up play, relentless pressing. He got a standing ovation when he came off in the 66th minute, and he’d well and truly earned it.
A Footnote That Shouldn’t Be Ignored
Some supporters in the Indar Gorri end directed vile chants at Raúl Asencio — the sort of stuff that has no place anywhere near a football ground. To their credit, the rest of El Sadar wasn’t having it, and those voices were left isolated. Osasuna as a club deserves better than being associated with that.
Source: MARCA – Cuando falla la fórmula Mbappé-Courtois, el fútbol no le da al Madrid