Los Blancos Strong but Vinicius Junior Strains Escalate – Major Spanish Derby Highlights

It was almost an ideal day from the Madrid side, as they beat Barcelona two goals to one during El Clasico to extend their advantage at the top of the Spanish league by five points.

Bellingham got his first goal in the league along with assist this term after a difficult period recovering from a shoulder operation.

The French forward continued his lethal performance when scoring, while Alonso's tactics during his debut El Clasico as coach functioned brilliantly.

Yet the Vinicius Junior question reared its head another time.

Frustrated at his substitution, the Brazilian winger ranted as he walked straight past his manager and stormed off the pitch, before returning to the substitute area later.

Alonso System Gets Results for Jude Bellingham

In his first derby, it was a solid start, especially since seven of Real's recent managers lost their first La Liga match with Barca.

After the player-focused style from the previous coach failed to get results last season, his structured approach delivered an important victory.

An expert commented, The strategy worked brilliantly. The home side performed excellently, while Barcelona struggled because of the home team's approach.”

Defensively, they applied pressure consistently, and if they were beaten, they fell back with discipline, everybody even Vinicius.”

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

This approach seems beneficial for Bellingham, who previously was essentially asked to carry the midfield in the engine room and more.

On paper the young star was positioned on the right, however he was allowed to come inside and either link with Mbappe or crash the penalty area.

The expert stated, With Camavinga in the center, this provides increased movement and more ways to block the spaces.”

This led to the team to put Jude wide right. Undoubtedly his role included to track the forward's positioning when he had the ball and had space, and he found him on several occasions.”

He was told to enter the area and position himself near the outskirts of the area, where he is very dangerous. Additionally, he moved centrally to close the inside channels and make Barcelona's life challenging.”

Strained Relations Laid Bare

There's no doubting that supporters love Vinicius, his name were sung multiple times by a fervent Bernabeu crowd.

Yet multiple countless reports in recent months that Los Blancos would consider letting him leave should a suitable bid were to come in.

The winger will have one season to go on his contract at the end of the campaign, but negotiations for an extension have stalled.

The player's reaction when substituted in the second half suggested tension. When the match ended, teammates intervened when he moved toward the Barcelona player.

The analyst commented, “Everyone will have a go at him and rightly so, since it displayed poor sportsmanship for Rodrygo who replaced him.”

However, from a young age, he has existed in a challenging environment, and perceives that the world is hostile.”

Such thinking is tough to overcome, notably when you believe near number one in the world, then the club shifts the focus towards Mbappe as the star.”

Recently he's felt that the club isn't protecting him. Rumors indicate, perhaps from within, or not denied by the club, that they would be open a bid of €250 million to sign him and sell him.”

“He feels all that, so when he was taken off – justifiably, because Vinicius stopped dropping back as expected – to him he says why single me out?’.”

“It will be difficult to build a bridge among the parties and the player now.”

Their System “Crumbles”

Following victories in each of the previous campaign's Clasicos, Sunday's performance was emblematic of their uncertain beginning of the season.

Absences have left without the manager of crucial contributors including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski plus others, and the tactical setup is not effective in their absence.

The analyst stated, Barcelona appear is a little bit less sharp when not in possession, less hungry to recover it, with reduced intensity to get the possession back.”

Opponents find it simpler to attack them. Should the defense is flawed, like on the first goal because Alejandro Balde failed to step up, they are not helped by the midfield and forwards failing to press those on the ball adequately.”

The young talent, the main threat of Real last season, was kept largely in check.

The big names did not perform well. Lamine seems not he's in good form, possibly because of a groin issue

Michelle Woodard
Michelle Woodard

A software engineer and retro computing enthusiast who restores vintage computers and writes about their historical significance.