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It was practically a perfect outing from Xabi Alonso's squad, as they overcame their arch-rivals 2-1 during the famous derby and extend the gap at the summit in the domestic championship to five points.

Jude Bellingham got his maiden goal in the league along with setup of the season after a difficult spell recovering from shoulder surgery.

Kylian Mbappe maintained his clinical form when scoring, while the manager's strategy in his first Clasico on the sidelines worked like a charm.

But then the Vinicius Junior question came to the forefront yet again.

Dissatisfied with coming off, Vinicius complained while walking right by the coach before headed off the pitch, then coming back on the sidelines later.

Manager's Approach Gets Results from Bellingham

As first Clasicos go, Alonso did well, given that the majority of Real's previous eight bosses lost their debut La Liga match against Barcelona.

After the relaxed approach under Ancelotti failed to get results last season, Alonso's positional game-model yielded its first major result.

Spanish football analyst commented, His plan was perfect. The home side were impressive, and Barcelona struggled due to the home team's approach.”

“Without the ball, they pressed high as much as possible, if overcome, they fell back in an organised way, all players even the forward.”

Their defensive setup in two layers spaced by 5-10 meters. Barcelona struggled to penetrate.”

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

In the lineup Bellingham started wide right, but actually he was allowed to move centrally and either link with Mbappe or enter the box.

The analyst added, Employing the French midfielder in central midfield, you get increased movement and more ways to close down the channels.”

As a result the team to deploy Bellingham on the right flank. Certainly his role included to monitor the forward's positioning in possession and had space, and he located him a few times.”

He was told to enter the area and operate on the edge of the box, where he is very dangerous. Additionally, he moved centrally to block central spaces and make Barcelona's life challenging.”

Conflict Issues Exposed

There's no doubting that supporters love Vinicius, his chant was chanted on several occasions by a fervent Bernabeu crowd.

However multiple various accounts in recent months that the club would consider letting him leave should a suitable bid was made.

He has one year remaining under his current terms come the end of the season, yet negotiations for an extension have not progressed.

Vinicius' behavior when substituted with 20 minutes left indicated tension. Post-game, teammates intervened when he moved toward Lamine Yamal.

The analyst commented, He will face backlash and justifiably, since it displayed a lack of respect for the substitute taking his place.”

However, from a young age, his life has been in a challenging environment, and he feels that everyone is against him.”

Such thinking is tough to overcome, especially when you consider yourself near the best player, but the team drives the axis to Mbappe as the key figure.”

During this campaign he's felt that the organization has not supported him. Reports suggest, possibly leaked by the club, or with the club not denying it, that they might accept if someone paid a quarter-billion euros to sign him and allow him to leave.”

This affects him, and after Alonso subbed him – reasonably, because Vinicius stopped dropping back as required – to him he thinks why always me?.”

It may be challenging to mend relations with the club and him now.”

Barca's Approach “Struggles”

Having triumphed in each of the last season's matches, the latest display was emblematic of their uncertain early form.

Fitness issues have left without the Barcelona coach of important stars including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski plus others, and the approach is failing when they are missing.

The analyst said, The squad seems is a little bit less sharp without the ball, less hungry to recover it, with reduced intensity to reclaim the ball.”

They are more vulnerable to break them down. If the defensive line is flawed, which was the case the Mbappe goal as Balde kept him onside, the midfield doesn't assist from the attack not challenging the ball-carrier adequately.”

The young talent, the main threat earlier, was kept largely in check.

“Their stars did not perform well. The youngster appears he is at his best, perhaps he's suffering from injury issues