Real Madrid Lose to Osasuna: Arbeloa Admits Poor Performance | La Liga 2024

Pamplona – Real Madrid suffered a setback in their La Liga title pursuit, falling 2-1 to Osasuna at El Sadar on Saturday. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, citing a lack of intensity and slow build-up play as key factors in the defeat.

Osasuna took the lead after being awarded a penalty, converted by Ante Budimir. Vinicius Junior equalized for Real Madrid in the second half, but Raul Garcia’s late goal secured the victory for the hosts, marking Osasuna’s first win over Madrid in fifteen years.

Real Madrid controlled possession with 61% of the ball and registered 15 shot attempts (5 on target), while Osasuna managed 13 shots (2 on target). Despite the possession advantage, Madrid struggled to break down Osasuna’s defense and convert opportunities.

Arbeloa emphasized that Osasuna capitalized on their chances, while his team failed to perform at the required level. He pointed to a lack of speed in circulating the ball and a general lack of intensity as critical issues.

“I think we didn’t play well. Osasuna played their game, and both of their shots on goal went in,” Arbeloa said, as reported by Marca. “We could have played much better. We need to play with much more intensity because that’s what’s expected of us. We lacked control and were too slow moving the ball.”

The defeat comes after a strong run of form for Arbeloa’s side since taking over last month, and represents their first La Liga loss since early December. The result could see them relinquish top spot in the league table, with Barcelona set to host Levante on Sunday.

Arbeloa also addressed the performance of Kylian Mbappe, who started despite appearing less than fully fit. He explained that the decision to start the French forward was made in consultation with the medical staff, after Mbappe had rested during the previous weekend’s match against Real Sociedad.

“He rested last weekend, he did not play against Real Sociedad, who are not just any team. When we think he is not in a condition to play, we are not going to take risks. It’s something I don’t decide alone, I do it with the doctors. He looked ready to play and, as I say, he didn’t play against Real Sociedad,” Arbeloa stated.

The loss to Osasuna highlights the challenges Real Madrid face in maintaining their position at the top of La Liga. While they boast considerable attacking talent, including Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, they need to demonstrate greater consistency and intensity to secure the title. The team’s ability to break down well-organized defenses, as evidenced by their struggles against Osasuna, will be crucial in the remaining matches of the season.

The match also saw the debut of young starlet Franco Mastantuono off the bench in the second half, but he was unable to significantly impact the game. Osasuna were reduced to ten men in the dying moments of the match when Abel Bretones received a straight red card for an elbow on Gonzalo Garcia, but the damage had already been done.

Arbeloa’s assessment of the game underscores the need for improvement across the board. He acknowledged that even against teams considered lower in the league standings, Real Madrid must bring their best performance to avoid dropping points. The team’s next challenge comes on Wednesday, and Arbeloa will be looking for a significant response from his players.

“If we don’t perform at our best, any team can beat us. The opposition gives 100 percent, and if we don’t…” he concluded, leaving the sentiment hanging as a clear message to his squad.