🔗 Share this article

This proved to be nearly a perfect outing for Real Madrid, who overcame Barcelona 2-1 in the Clasico and stretch their advantage in first place of the domestic championship with a five-point cushion.

Bellingham got his inaugural league goal and assist this campaign after a tough period healing from surgery on his shoulder.

The French forward continued his clinical form in front of goal, while the manager's strategy in his inaugural Clasico as coach functioned perfectly.

Yet the Vinicius Junior question came to the forefront once more.

Frustrated with being substituted, the star forward protested while walking directly past his manager and stormed to the dressing room, then returning to the substitute area several minutes.

Alonso System Delivers Success from Bellingham

In his first derby, Alonso did well, especially since seven of Madrid's previous eight bosses lost their initial La Liga encounter against their rivals.

Following the player-focused style under Ancelotti did not deliver in the previous campaign, Alonso's positional game-model produced an important victory.

An expert noted, The strategy worked brilliantly. Madrid performed excellently, while the visitors didn't play well because of what Real Madrid were doing.”

When not in possession, they pressed high for as long as they could, and when bypassed, they retreated with discipline, everybody even the forward.”

Their defensive setup in two layers separated by 5-10 meters. The opposition could not find a way through.”

The new system looks to be positive for Bellingham, who previously was essentially asked to do everything in midfield and more.

In the lineup the young star started wide right, but in practice he was allowed to move centrally and assist the attack or get into scoring positions.

The expert stated, “By using Eduardo Camavinga in the center, it brings more dynamism and more ways to block the passing lanes.”

This led to them to deploy Bellingham on the right flank. Certainly his role included to monitor the runs of Mbappe when he had the ball with room, connecting with him a few times.”

“He was asked to get into the box and operate on the outskirts of the area, where he is very dangerous. He also came inside to close the inside channels creating Barca's task tough.”

Conflict Issues Exposed

There's no doubting that Madridistas love Vinicius, calls for him rang out on several occasions by a fervent Madrid fans.

Yet multiple countless reports over the past period that the club would consider letting him leave should a suitable bid were to come in.

The winger will have a year left under his current terms when this term concludes, but talks over a new deal have stalled.

Vinicius' behavior when substituted late in the game suggested tension. When the match ended, he had to be restrained when he moved toward Yamal.

The analyst commented, He will face backlash for good reason, because it showed poor sportsmanship for Rodrygo who replaced him.”

“But since being a kid, he has lived in a hostile world, and perceives that the world is hostile.”

This mindset is difficult to shake, particularly since you believe near the top star, and the organization redirects attention in favor of Mbappe as the key figure.”

“This season he's felt that the club is not defending him. Rumors indicate, potentially club-sourced, or not denied by the club, that they would be open a bid of a quarter-billion euros for his transfer and allow him to leave.”

“He feels all that, so when Alonso subbed him – reasonably, as he ceased tracking back as expected – in his mind he questions ‘why me, why me again?.”

It may be challenging to reconcile between the club and him currently.”

Barca's Approach “Falls Apart”

Following victories in all four of previous campaign's Clasicos, Sunday's performance represented Barca's shaky start to the campaign.

Injuries have left without the manager of key players such as Raphinha, the striker and Dani Olmo, and the tactical setup is not effective in their absence.

Balague said, “It's like the whole team is a little bit less sharp defensively, with less desire to win it back, less aggressive to reclaim the ball.”

“It's easier to create chances against them. If the defensive line is not perfect, which was the case the Mbappe goal as Balde failed to step up, they receive little support from the attack not challenging the ball-carrier as well as they should.”

Yamal, the main threat earlier, was neutralized.

Key players were below par. The youngster doesn't feel like he's in good form, perhaps he's suffering from injury issues