Real Madrid Strong yet Vinicius Junior Tensions Intensify – Major El Clasico Takeaways
This proved to be nearly an ideal performance for Xabi Alonso's squad, who beat Barcelona two goals to one in the famous derby and increase their advantage in first place in the Spanish league to five points.
The English midfielder got his inaugural domestic strike and key pass this campaign following a tough period recovering from surgery on his shoulder.
The French forward maintained his lethal performance in front of goal, and the coach's game plan during his debut Clasico on the sidelines worked like a charm.
However the Vinicius Junior question reared its head once more.
Frustrated with being substituted, Vinicius ranted as he walked directly past the coach and marched down the tunnel, then reappearing on the sidelines several minutes.
Alonso System Delivers Positive Outcomes for Jude Bellingham
In his first derby, this wasn't a bad one, considering seven of Madrid's last eight bosses were defeated in their debut La Liga meeting with their rivals.
After the laissez-faire style from the previous coach failed to get results in the previous campaign, Alonso's positional game-model yielded its first major result.
Spanish football analyst observed, The strategy worked brilliantly. Madrid performed excellently, while Barcelona were off-color due to Madrid's tactics.”
When not in possession, they pressed high as much as possible, and when bypassed, they tracked back in a structured manner, all players even the forward.”
The team's shape in two layers with a gap of 5-10 meters. Barca could not find a way through.”
The tactical change looks to be positive for the midfielder, who in the past had been tasked to cover multiple roles in the engine room and beyond.
In the lineup Bellingham played on the right, but actually he was allowed to come inside and either link with Mbappe or get into scoring positions.
The expert added, “By using the French midfielder in the middle, this provides more dynamism and additional options to close down the spaces.”
As a result the team to put Bellingham on the right-hand side. Certainly he was instructed to keep an eye on the runs of Mbappe on the ball and had space, and he located him a few times.”
His instructions included to enter the area and position himself near just outside the box, where he is very dangerous. He also drifted in to cut off passing options and make Barca's task very difficult.”
Strained Relations Laid Bare
It's clear that Madridistas are fond of the Brazilian, his name was chanted multiple times by a fervent home supporters.
Yet recently there were countless reports over the past period that the club might think about letting him leave if an attractive proposal arrived.
He has one year remaining on his contract at the end of the campaign, but negotiations for an extension are at a standstill.
The player's reaction when substituted with 20 minutes left suggested tension. Post-game, he was held back when he moved toward Lamine Yamal.
The analyst said, Many will criticize him and justifiably, as it demonstrated poor sportsmanship for the substitute who replaced him.”
“But since being a kid, he has lived in a hostile world, and he feels that the world is hostile.”
“That mentality is hard to change, particularly since you believe on the verge of the top star, and the organization shifts the focus to Mbappe as the key figure.”
Recently he believes that the club is not defending him. Rumors indicate, potentially club-sourced, or with the club not denying it, that they might accept a bid of a quarter-billion euros for his transfer and let him go.”
This affects him, and after the coach substituted him – justifiably, since he wasn't defending as required – to him he thinks why always me?.”
It may be challenging to build a bridge among the parties and him currently.”
Barcelona Style “Falls Apart”
Following victories in all four of recent derbies, the latest display represented Barcelona's unconvincing start to the campaign.
Fitness issues have robbed the manager of key players including the Brazilian winger, Lewandowski plus others, and his system isn't working without them.
The expert stated, The squad seems lack sharpness without the ball, less hungry to recover it, softer to reclaim the ball.”
They are more vulnerable to create chances against them. Should the defense is not perfect, which was the case the first goal because Alejandro Balde failed to step up, they receive little support by the midfield and forwards not closing down opponents in possession as expected.”
Yamal, tormentor-in-chief earlier, was well contained.
The big names did not perform well. Yamal doesn't feel like he's in good form, possibly because of a groin issue