Real Madrid suffered their inaugural La Liga setback of 2026, falling 2-1 to a resilient Osasuna side. Despite Álvaro Arbeloa’s men dominating long stretches of the second half, a late strike from Raúl García de Haro cancelled out Vinícius Júnior’s equalizer, following Ante Budimir’s opening penalty. It was a frustrating night in Pamplona that could see Real Madrid’s lead at the summit vanish.

Real Madrid Player Ratings 

Thibaut Courtois – 5.5 The Belgian shot-stopper had a difficult outing, notably conceding the penalty that led to Osasuna’s opener. While the foul itself was somewhat accidental, his historical struggle to save spot-kicks was highlighted once again as Budimir sent him the wrong way. Dani Carvajal – 5.5 Returning to the starting lineup for the first time since his injury in September, the veteran fullback looked understandably rusty. He lacked his usual explosive pace and was frequently troubled by the trickery of Víctor Muñoz before being substituted after the hour mark. Raúl Asencio – 6 A mixed performance for the youngster. Asencio was a threat in the opposition box but squandered a golden opportunity to score in the first half. Defensively, he was solid for most of the match but lost his positioning during the scramble for Osasuna’s 90th-minute winner. David Alaba – 5.5 Making only his second start of the campaign, Alaba looked off the pace. The Austrian struggled to contain the physical presence of Budimir and appeared to tire late in the game, failing to close down the space for the decisive second goal. Álvaro Carreras – 6.5 The standout performer in an otherwise shaky backline. Carreras was diligent in his defensive duties, winning a high-stakes duel against Rubén García. He provided the most stability on the left side and was Madrid’s most reliable defender throughout. Fede Valverde – 6.5 After a quiet opening period, Valverde burst into life after the break. His driving run and perfectly weighted pass allowed Vinícius to level the scores. Real Madrid notably lost their structural intensity once the Uruguayan was withdrawn late in the second half. Arda Güler – 6 The Turkish prodigy showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the clinical edge he displayed earlier in the season. He forced a decent save in the second half but found it difficult to consistently find pockets of space between Osasuna’s disciplined defensive lines. Aurélien Tchouaméni – 6.5 Tchouaméni worked tirelessly as the midfield anchor, covering significant ground to snuff out counter-attacks. However, he was often left isolated as Aimar Oroz found gaps in the transition, leaving the Frenchman with too much work to do on his own. Eduardo Camavinga – 6 It was a subdued performance from the Frenchman, who struggled to influence the game in the final third. Defensively, he was caught out several times as Osasuna’s Valentín Rosier exploited the space behind him to deliver dangerous crosses. Kylian Mbappé – 6 Clearly hindered by a lingering fitness issue, Mbappé was a shadow of his usual self. He had the ball in the net only to be denied by the offside flag and spent most of the match being marshalled effectively by the Osasuna center-backs. Vinícius Júnior – 7 Once again, the Brazilian was the heartbeat of the Madrid attack. He took his goal with composure and was the only forward consistently threatening to break the deadlock. Despite the team’s loss, his individual performance was the solitary bright spot for the visitors.

Substitutes

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Carvajal, 64’) – 6 Added some much-needed attacking impetus and crossing quality, though he faced similar defensive difficulties against Muñoz during the frantic closing stages. Brahim Díaz (Güler, 75’) – 6 Introduced to provide a spark but found the Osasuna defense too compact to penetrate. Gonzalo García (Mbappé, 82’) – 6 Thrown on as a late target man but failed to see enough of the ball to make a tangible impact. Dani Ceballos (Valverde, 82’) – 6 Struggled to replicate Valverde’s energy as the game slipped away from Madrid in the final minutes.

It's more points dropped for the Blues. #BBCFootball #CHEBUR pic.twitter.com/3b3Ac9XPiT

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 21, 2026

Chelsea have dropped more points from winning positions in Premier League home games than any other side this season (17).

Joao Pedro had given Chelsea the lead against Burnley, but the balance of the match swung on Wesley Fofana’s second-half red card, with the visitors… pic.twitter.com/KpQCdbqzLu

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) February 21, 2026

Real Madrid C.F. has announced their starting XI for their upcoming match against Osasuna. The club shared the lineup via an official post on X (formerly Twitter), featuring a graphic of the players ready to take the field.

📋✅ Our starting XI!
🆚 @Osasuna_en pic.twitter.com/I89amB9edl

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 21, 2026

Chelsea’s struggles at Stamford Bridge against newly promoted Premier League sides this season have been highlighted in a recent post. The club has notably failed to secure victories against any of the three teams promoted to the top flight this campaign when playing at home. These disappointing results include a loss to Sunderland after taking the lead, a draw with Leeds United after squandering a two-goal advantage, and a recent 1-1 draw against Burnley where Chelsea again conceded after initially scoring first. The statistics underscore a concerning trend for the London club against less-fancied opposition on their home turf.

Incredibly, Chelsea has failed to beat any of the three Premier League newcomers at Stamford Bridge this season:

• Beaten by Sunderland despite scoring first
• Blew a 2-0 lead to draw with Leeds United
• Held in a 1-1 draw after taking the lead vs. Burnley#PL pic.twitter.com/Rmd3SeBEuC

— HF World (@hfworld_) February 21, 2026

Thierry Henry has identified Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen as a primary target for Barcelona, insisting the club needs a “proven finisher” to capitalize on Lamine Yamal’s playmaking brilliance.

Arsenal legend ​Thierry Henry has named Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen as one of three elite strikers Barcelona should target to lead their front line.

Osimhen, who has recorded 15 goals and five assists for Galatasaray this season, is viewed as the ideal successor to Robert Lewandowski.

Henry emphasized that the Catalan giants require established stars rather than young prospects to maintain their competitive edge in European football.

​The Frenchman believes Osimhen’s clinical nature would perfectly complement Barcelona’s creative talents.

Henry told Sport: “Barcelona need a real number 9. A top-level striker. I am referring to formidable scorers such as Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland or Harry Kane.

Proven finishers, not prospects.” He added that with Lamine Yamal creating opportunities, “you have to score. It’s simple. At this level, one chance is enough.”

Sky Italia correspondent Peppe Di Stefano warns that AC Milan must aggressively bolster their squad depth with international pedigree like Leon Goretzka to compete in next season’s Champions League.

​AC Milan must significantly expand their squad depth and quality if they secure Champions League qualification, according to Sky Italia’s Peppe Di Stefano.

With the Rossoneri currently second in Serie A, Di Stefano argues that the current roster requires “higher-caliber alternatives” to compete on multiple fronts.

He specifically identified Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka as the type of physical, experienced midfielder Massimiliano Allegri’s side needs to bridge the gap with Europe’s elite.

​Beyond the midfield, Di Stefano suggested a “revolution in attack” could be on the horizon, casting doubt on the long-term futures of stars like Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic.

While homegrown talents have stepped up this season, he insists that a successful European campaign demands “international talent like the Modrićs, Rabiots, and Maignans.”

As transfer directors Igli Tare and Geoffrey Moncada evaluate their options, Di Stefano believes targets like Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji should also be prioritized.

Juventus has reportedly decided to retain manager Luciano Spalletti for the long term, prioritizing stability despite a four-match winless run and a heavy Champions League defeat to Galatasaray.

​Juventus is set to stand by manager Luciano Spalletti regardless of how the current campaign concludes.

The club’s board remains convinced by the structural improvements made since Spalletti replaced Igor Tudor in late 2025, viewing him as a central figure for a multi-year rebuild.

Even with a recent dip in form that has left the Bianconeri fifth in Serie A, the hierarchy plans to provide significant backing in the upcoming summer transfer window.

​The “Emperor” of Italian coaching faces immediate pressure to arrest a slide that saw Juventus concede 13 goals in just four matches, including a humbling 5-2 loss in Istanbul.

“We need to analyze the situation correctly and objectively, using this pain as a springboard,” Spalletti stated ahead of Saturday’s clash with Como.

With Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, the club is banking on his veteran experience to navigate a defensive crisis following injuries to key players like Bremer and Dean Huijsen.

Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio have addressed recent controversies and injury concerns ahead of upcoming matches.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has addressed the fallout from his side’s midweek defeat to Real Madrid, specifically defending his controversial remarks regarding Vinicius Jr.

Mourinho admitted that managing the emotional aftermath has been difficult, stating, “It has not been easy to emotionally manage everything that has happened and continues to happen.”

He previously questioned the Brazilian’s goal celebration following alleged racist abuse.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has avoided a serious tibia injury after undergoing specialized treatment.

The 23-year-old center-back, who played through significant pain due to depleted defensive resources, declared at Valdebebas, “I am not stopping for anything.”

Having rested for nearly two weeks due to a technical decision and suspension, Asencio is expected to return to the squad for the clash against Osasuna.

Patrick Lacey, a former professional footballer and boxer and the older brother of Manchester United starlet Shea Lacey, has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting in Huyton last November.

​Former footballer and professional boxer Patrick Lacey is one of four men charged with attempted murder following a shooting in Merseyside.

The 32-year-old was arrested Thursday alongside three others in connection with a November attack on a man in Huyton.

Charges include conspiracy to murder and possession of a firearm. Detective Inspector Chris Clark stated: “All four men will appear in court today.”

​Lacey, the older brother of Manchester United’s Shea Lacey, previously played for Barrow and Accrington Stanley before pursuing a boxing career.

He fought professionally as recently as this month. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident, which left a victim with serious leg injuries.

Inspector Clark urged witnesses to “come forward” with any footage or accounts to assist the ongoing firearms investigation team.

Pep Guardiola has refused to discuss Manchester City’s sudden advantage in the Premier League title race, despite Arsenal dropping crucial points against Brentford and Wolves to leave the door open for the champions.

Pep Guardiola insisted he is not monitoring the Premier League table despite Arsenal’s recent slip-ups.

Following the Gunners’ collapse at Wolves, City can secure the title by winning their remaining twelve fixtures. Guardiola dismissed the hype, stating: “I didn’t talk about the position or the table. I could not care less.”

He emphasized that with so many games left, the title race remains “an eternity.”

The City manager also lauded January signing Antoine Semenyo, who has netted five goals since his £64m move.

While Savinho returns to the squad for Saturday’s clash against Newcastle, Jeremy Doku remains sidelined.

Guardiola noted the importance of focus, adding: “Yesterday and the day before it was Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.” City aim to extend their historic unbeaten home record against the visiting Magpies.