The name Xabi Alonso carries a weight at Real Madrid that goes far beyond statistics, trophies, or tactical diagrams. He represents a certain footballing intelligence — a blend of elegance, discipline, and calm authority — that aligns naturally with the club’s highest ideals. When a figure like Alonso departs from Real Madrid’s sphere, the consequences are not immediate explosions or visible collapses. Instead, the impact unfolds quietly, gradually reshaping ambitions, dynamics, leadership structures, and long-term identity. Real Madrid is accustomed to change. Players come and go, managers rise and fall, eras end and begin again. Yet some departures feel different because they touch the club’s strategic soul rather than its surface performance. Xabi Alonso belongs firmly in that category. His exit does not simply close a chapter; it alters the direction of several unwritten pages. A Figure Rooted in Madrid’s Modern DNA Xabi Alonso’s bond with Real Madrid is deeply emotional and intell...
After Osasuna defeated Barcelona 4-2 on Saturday despite having just 25% of the ball, Barcelona's undefeated record in La Liga is ended.
Given that Barcelona had won all eight of their previous La Liga visits to El Sadar, it ought to have been an easy victory. Osasuna, however, had a surprise in store.
It eventually came back to haunt manager Hansi Flick when he started a few young players, such as Pau Víctor, Pablo Torre, Gerard Martín, Pau Cubarsí, and Sergi Domínguez.
Under Flick, Barcelona has only conceded 5 goals in La Liga, while they have scored 4!
After scoring on the counter both times, the hosts took advantage of a 17- and 19-year-old center-back combination to take a commanding 2-0 lead in just 28 minutes. After forty minutes, Barcelona, on the other hand, had no shots.
After arriving late in the box, Bryan Zaragoza ran ahead and past goalkeeper Iñaki Peña Sotorres from a tight angle, surpassing Ante Budimir as the club's all-time La Liga scorer.
Minutes into the second half, Barcelona must have had a blistering conversation during halftime, suggesting that the comeback was imminent. Víctor's unexpected strike wobbled badly and sent Sergio Herrera to sleep, winning 2-1.
But even with Flick bringing on big guns Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona was unable to muster any meaningful offensive play and lost three times in a row when they broke. On his record-breaking night, Budimir secured a brace while Domínguez gave up a penalty.
Furthermore, Osasuna's historic victory was sealed when substitute Abel Bretones scored from long range after depriving the Spain prodigy of the ball, even if Yamal ultimately reached the upper right corner on his own.
As a result of their first home victory over Barcelona in twelve years, Osasuna now sits sixth in the table. If Real Madrid defeats Atletico Madrid on Sunday, they will trail Barcelona by one point.
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