🔗 Share this article

The match represented almost a perfect performance from Xabi Alonso's squad, who beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico and stretch the gap at the top in La Liga by five points.

The English midfielder got his maiden league goal and key pass of the season after a challenging period healing from surgery on his shoulder.

The French forward showed his clinical performance in front of goal, while the manager's strategy during his debut derby as coach functioned brilliantly.

But then the issue surrounding Vinicius emerged again another time.

Dissatisfied with his substitution, the star forward protested on his way right by the coach and marched to the dressing room, before coming back on the sidelines after a short while.

Manager's Approach Yields Success for Jude Bellingham

As first Clasicos go, this wasn't a bad one, given that seven of Real's last eight bosses were defeated in their debut league encounter against Barcelona.

After the relaxed method of Carlo Ancelotti did not deliver earlier, his structured approach delivered its first major result.

Spanish football analyst noted, The strategy worked brilliantly. The home side were impressive, and Barca struggled due to the home team's approach.”

When not in possession, they pressed high consistently, and when bypassed, they tracked back in a structured manner, all players even the forward.”

Their defensive setup with two banks separated by five to 10 metres. Barca were unable to break through.”

This approach seems positive for the midfielder, who in the past was essentially asked to cover multiple roles in the engine room and more.

Theoretically the young star started wide right, but in practice he had the freedom to come inside and link with Mbappe or crash the penalty area.

The expert added, “By using Camavinga in central midfield, this provides greater energy and better ability to shut down the spaces.”

This led to them to position Jude on the right flank. Undoubtedly his role included to track the runs of Mbappe when he had the ball and found openings, and he located him repeatedly.”

He was told to enter the area and be around the edge of the box, his most effective zone. He also drifted in to block central spaces and cause Barcelona's life challenging.”

Strained Relations Revealed

There's no doubting that the fans adore Vinicius, calls for him rang out repeatedly by a fervent Bernabeu crowd.

However multiple various accounts in recent months that the club would consider letting him leave if the right offer were to come in.

He will have one year remaining on his contract come the end of the season, yet negotiations for an extension are at a standstill.

The player's reaction after coming off with 20 minutes left suggested issues. When the match ended, he had to be restrained as he attempted to confront Lamine Yamal.

The expert said, Many will criticize him and rightly so, because it showed a lack of respect toward his replacement taking his place.”

However, from a young age, his life has been in a hostile world, and perceives that he faces opposition.”

Such thinking is tough to overcome, notably when you feel near the top star, then the club shifts the focus in favor of Mbappe as the main man.”

Recently he's felt that Real Madrid isn't protecting him. Rumors indicate, perhaps from within, or with the club not denying it, that they wouldn't be unhappy an offer worth 250m euros to sign him and let him go.”

This affects him, so when the coach substituted him – reasonably, because Vinicius stopped dropping back as expected – in Vinicius' head he says why always me?.”

Building bridges will be tough to reconcile among the parties and him currently.”

Their System “Falls Apart”

Having triumphed in all four of last season's derbies, Sunday's performance highlighted their uncertain early form.

Fitness issues have robbed the manager of key players such as Raphinha, Lewandowski plus others, and his system is failing when they are missing.

The expert commented, Barcelona appear is a little bit less sharp without the ball, with less desire to win it back, softer in pressing.”

They are more vulnerable to create chances against them. When the backline is flawed, as it wasn't the Mbappe goal because Alejandro Balde played him onside, they are not helped from the attack not challenging opponents in possession as expected.”

Lamine Yamal, tormentor-in-chief earlier, was kept largely in check.

The big names weren't at their best. Yamal appears he's in good form, perhaps he's suffering from a groin issue