Real Madrid kicked off their 2025–26 season with a 1–0 victory over Osasuna thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappé.Just 41 days after they crashed out of the FIFA Club World Cup, Los Blancos returned to La Liga action at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Following recent experimentation with his positioning — he was given more opportunity to drift into midfield and help with build-up in central areas during Jurgen Klopp’s final year in charge at Liverpool — Alexander-Arnold largely returned to a more traditional full-back role last season.