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This proved to be nearly an ideal outing from Xabi Alonso's squad, who overcame Barca two goals to one in the Clasico and stretch their advantage at the summit of the domestic championship by five points.

Jude Bellingham notched his first league goal along with key pass this campaign following a tough few months coming back from surgery on his shoulder.

The French forward showed his clinical touch in front of goal, and the coach's game plan in his inaugural Clasico in the dugout proved like a charm.

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

Frustrated with coming off, Vinicius complained while walking straight past Xabi Alonso and headed to the dressing room, then coming back to the bench several minutes.

Tactical Setup Delivers Results for Bellingham

For a debut Clasico, Alonso did well, especially since the majority of Madrid's previous eight managers were defeated in their initial La Liga encounter with Barca.

Following the relaxed method of Carlo Ancelotti fell short earlier, Alonso's positional game-model produced a significant outcome.

An expert noted, The strategy worked brilliantly. Madrid performed excellently, and Barcelona struggled due to what Real Madrid were doing.”

“Without the ball, they pushed up as much as possible, and when bypassed, they tracked back in an organised way, everybody including the forward.”

The team's shape in two layers separated by 5-10 meters. Barca struggled to penetrate.”

The new system seems positive for Bellingham, as he in the past was essentially asked to cover multiple roles in the center and beyond.

Theoretically Bellingham was positioned on the right, but in practice he was allowed to drift inward and either link with Mbappe or enter the box.

Balague added, Employing Eduardo Camavinga in central midfield, it brings greater energy and more ways to close down the passing lanes.”

As a result the team to deploy Jude on the right flank. Undoubtedly he was instructed to monitor Mbappe's movements when he had the ball and had space, and he found him repeatedly.”

He was told to enter the area and operate on just outside the box, where he poses a threat. Additionally, he moved centrally to block central spaces creating Barca's task challenging.”

Conflict Issues Laid Bare

There's no doubting that supporters are fond of the Brazilian, calls for him were sung on several occasions by a fervent home supporters.

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

The winger has one year remaining on his deal when this term concludes, yet negotiations for an extension have stalled.

His response after coming off with 20 minutes left suggested issues. When the match ended, teammates intervened as he tried to approach Yamal.

Balague noted, “Everyone will have a go at him for good reason, because it showed poor sportsmanship for the substitute who replaced him.”

“But since being a kid, his life has been in a hostile world, and he believes that the world is hostile.”

Such thinking is tough to overcome, notably when you feel near the top star, but the team redirects attention to Mbappe as the main man.”

“This season he's felt that the club is not defending him. There are stories, possibly leaked by the club, or with the club not denying it, that they might accept if someone paid a quarter-billion euros for him and sell him.”

“He feels all that, so when the coach substituted him – fairly, as he ceased tracking back as he should – in his mind he says ‘why me, why me again?.”

It may be challenging to reconcile with the club and the player now.”

Their System “Struggles”

After winning each of the previous campaign's derbies, this outing highlighted Barca's shaky beginning of the season.

Fitness issues have left without the Barcelona coach of crucial contributors including Raphinha, Lewandowski and Olmo, and his system isn't working in their absence.

The expert commented, Barcelona appear lack sharpness defensively, less hungry to recover it, softer to reclaim the ball.”

“It's easier to attack them. If the defensive line is flawed, like on Mbappe's strike as Balde played him onside, the midfield doesn't assist from the attack failing to press the ball-carrier as well as they should.”

The young talent, tormentor-in-chief in previous meetings, was neutralized.

“Their stars weren't at their best. Yamal seems not he's in good form, maybe due to injury issues