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It was nearly an ideal performance from Xabi Alonso's squad, who defeated Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico and extend their lead at the top in La Liga by five points.

Bellingham scored his maiden league goal along with key pass this term after a challenging spell healing from a shoulder operation.

Mbappe maintained his deadly performance in attack, while the coach's game plan in his first El Clasico on the sidelines worked brilliantly.

But then the Vinicius Junior question reared its head once more.

Dissatisfied with his substitution, the Brazilian winger protested on his way straight past the coach before headed to the dressing room, then reappearing on the sidelines after a short while.

Alonso System Yields Success from Bellingham

As first Clasicos go, this wasn't a bad one, given that seven of Real's recent managers were defeated in their first La Liga match with Barca.

After the laissez-faire approach under Ancelotti failed to get results in the previous campaign, Alonso's positional game-model delivered an important victory.

An expert noted, “He got it spot on. The home side were very good, while the visitors struggled because of the home team's approach.”

Defensively, they pushed up as much as possible, and when bypassed, they retreated in an organised way, all players even the forward.”

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

The tactical change looks to be beneficial for Jude, who last season was expected to cover multiple roles in the center and more.

On paper Bellingham was positioned on the right, but actually he could to move centrally and support Mbappe or crash the penalty area.

Balague added, Employing Camavinga in the middle, it brings increased movement and better ability to close down the spaces.”

As a result them to deploy Jude wide right. Certainly his role included to track Mbappe's movements when he had the ball with room, connecting with him repeatedly.”

He was told to enter the area and operate on just outside the box, where he is very dangerous. He also drifted in to close the inside channels creating Barca's task challenging.”

Vinicius Tensions Revealed

It's clear that supporters are fond of the Brazilian, calls for him were sung repeatedly by an enthusiastic Madrid fans.

Yet there have been countless reports over the past period that the club could entertain letting him leave if an attractive proposal arrived.

He has a year left on his contract when this term concludes, but talks over a new deal have stalled.

The player's reaction after coming off with 20 minutes left spoke of issues. When the match ended, he was held back as he tried to approach the Barcelona player.

Balague noted, Many will criticize him for good reason, as it demonstrated poor sportsmanship for Rodrygo who came on for him.”

Yet, growing up, his life has been in a hostile world, and he believes that everyone is against him.”

This mindset is hard to change, especially when you feel on the verge of number one in the world, then the club drives the axis in favor of Mbappe as the main man.”

Recently he's felt that the organization has not supported him. Rumors indicate, potentially club-sourced, or not denied by the club, that they would be open an offer worth 250m euros for him and allow him to leave.”

“He feels all that, and after the coach substituted him – fairly, because Vinicius stopped dropping back as he should – in Vinicius' head he questions ‘why me, why me again?.”

“It will be difficult to mend relations among the parties and him at the moment.”

Barca's Approach “Falls Apart”

After winning all four of last season's derbies, this outing was emblematic of Barca's shaky beginning of the season.

Absences have robbed the Barcelona coach of crucial contributors such as Raphinha, the striker plus others, and his system is failing in their absence.

The analyst stated, The squad seems lack sharpness when not in possession, less hungry to recover it, with reduced intensity to get the possession back.”

They are more vulnerable to create chances against them. If the defensive line is not organized, like on Mbappe's strike since the defender kept him onside, they receive little support by teammates not closing down opponents in possession as expected.”

Yamal, who troubled Madrid in previous meetings, was well contained.

“Their stars did not perform well. The youngster appears in top condition, perhaps he's suffering from injury issues