🔗 Share this article

The match represented almost a perfect outing from Xabi Alonso's squad, as they beat Barcelona two goals to one during the Clasico and stretch the gap at the summit of La Liga to five points.

The English midfielder got his maiden domestic strike along with key pass this campaign after a tough period coming back from surgery on his shoulder.

Mbappe continued his deadly form in attack, while Alonso's tactics in his inaugural El Clasico in the dugout worked like a charm.

But then the issue surrounding Vinicius emerged again another time.

Frustrated at his substitution, the Brazilian winger protested on his way directly past Xabi Alonso before headed off the pitch, then reappearing to the bench later.

Manager's Approach Yields Success for Jude Bellingham

For a debut Clasico, Alonso did well, considering the majority of Real's last eight managers lost their first league encounter with Barca.

After the laissez-faire approach under Ancelotti fell short in the previous campaign, his structured approach yielded its first major result.

A specialist commented, His plan was perfect. The home side were impressive, while Barca didn't play well due to Madrid's tactics.”

Defensively, they applied pressure as much as possible, if overcome, they retreated in an organised way, everybody even Vinicius.”

The team's shape in two layers with a gap of 5-10 meters. The opposition struggled to penetrate.”

The tactical change appears to be beneficial for Jude, who previously had been tasked to carry the midfield in the engine room and more.

In the lineup Bellingham started wide right, but actually he was allowed to come inside and link with Mbappe or get into scoring positions.

The analyst continued, “By using Eduardo Camavinga in the middle, this provides more dynamism and better ability to block the passing lanes.”

“That forced the team to deploy Jude on the right flank. Certainly he would have been asked to track Mbappe's movements on the ball with room, and he found him on several occasions.”

“He was asked to enter the area and be around the outskirts of the area, where he is very dangerous. He also drifted in to cut off passing options and make Barca's task challenging.”

Strained Relations Revealed

There's no doubting that the fans adore Vinicius, calls for him was chanted multiple times by an enthusiastic Madrid fans.

But there have been numerous stories in recent months that Los Blancos might think about selling him if an attractive proposal were to come in.

The winger has one year remaining under his current terms when this term concludes, yet negotiations for an extension are at a standstill.

Vinicius' behavior when substituted in the second half suggested strained relations. When the match ended, he was held back as he tried to approach the Barcelona player.

The expert said, Many will criticize him and rightly so, as it demonstrated a lack of respect toward his replacement who replaced him.”

“But since being a kid, his life has been amid adversity, and he believes that everyone is against him.”

This mindset is hard to change, notably when you believe close to being the best player, but the team shifts the focus towards Mbappe as the key figure.”

Recently he believes that the club has not supported him. There are stories, potentially club-sourced, or unchallenged by officials, that they wouldn't be unhappy if someone paid 250m euros for his transfer and allow him to leave.”

“He feels all that, and after he was taken off – reasonably, since he wasn't defending as he should – to him he says ‘why me, why me again?.”

“It will be difficult to reconcile between the club and him now.”

Barca's Approach “Falls Apart”

After winning all four of last season's Clasicos, Sunday's performance was emblematic of Barca's shaky start to the campaign.

Fitness issues have robbed Hansi Flick of key players including the Brazilian winger, Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, and the approach is failing when they are missing.

The expert stated, The squad seems is a little bit less sharp defensively, with less desire to win it back, softer in pressing.”

They are more vulnerable to create chances against them. When the backline is not organized, which was the case the Mbappe goal because Alejandro Balde kept him onside, they receive little support by the midfield and forwards failing to press opponents in possession adequately.”

Lamine Yamal, the main threat in previous meetings, was well contained.

Key players did not perform well. Lamine doesn't feel like he is at his best, possibly because of groin problems