Three Takeaways From Real Madrid’s Long-awaited Clasico Triumph

After suffering 4 Clásico defeats past season, Real Madrid enacted their revenge against their arch rivals, defeating Barcelona 2–1 astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu.

The unit was connected Xabi Alonso to present successful his first El Clásico successful charge, particularly aft his woes against Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid. Not to mention Real Madrid were going against a Barcelona side riddled pinch injuries and without Hansi Flick connected nan touchline.

Kylian Mbappé opened nan scoring for Los Blancos, but Fermín López brought nan Catalans backmost level successful a half mostly dominated by nan hosts. In nan end, it was Jude Bellingham’s 43rd-minute extremity that secured each 3 points for Real Madrid, keeping nan Spanish giants successful first spot of La Liga.

Here’s 3 takeaways from Real Madrid’s thrilling El Clásico victory.

Kylian Mbappé torched Barcelona’s defense. / Mateo Villalba/Getty Images

It is nary concealed Barcelona outsmarted Real Madrid pinch their precocious statement past successful past season’s 4 Clásicos. Mbappé unsocial was caught offside a career-high 8 times successful Barcelona’s 4–0 triumph complete Real Madrid past October.

The offside emblem was raised a full of 25 times against Los Blancos crossed their 4 bouts pinch nan Catalans. Even nan velocity of Mbappé and nan imagination of Bellingham were not capable to make Flick’s men salary for their high-risk system.

Fast guardant to nan first Clásico of 2025–26 and Real Madrid yet sewage nan amended of Barcelona’s precocious line. Well-timed done balls and runs successful down from Alonso’s attackers wholly carved nan defending Spanish champions apart.

Mbappé, successful particular, looked poised to people each clip he sewage connected nan ball, leaving defenders chasing aft his streaking form. Led by nan Frenchman, Real Madrid yet came into a Clásico pinch a tactical crippled scheme that they executed to near-perfection; nan Spanish giants still saw 3 goals wiped distant for offside, but successful nan end, those did not matter.

Alonso Built a Defense Worthy of Silverware

Lamine Yamal (left) was held silent by Álvaro Carreras. / Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Barcelona’s 16 goals against Real Madrid past play were thing short of an embarrassment for nan 15-time European champions. Flick’s men did immoderate they wanted against Los Blancos’ injury-ridden backline connected their measurement to a home treble.

Real Madrid past invested successful a caller defense for Alonso, signing Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer. The second missed retired connected El Clásico, but Huijsen and Carreras shined successful their first appearances against nan Catalans.

After spending nan past 2 weeks connected nan sidelines, Huijsen returned to Alonso’s XI without missing a step. The erstwhile Bournemouth standout was poised nether pressure, helping Éder Militão withstand push aft push by Barcelona successful nan 2nd half, particularly successful stoppage time.

Carreras, meanwhile, did good against Yamal, limiting nan teenage sensation to zero shots connected target successful 90 minutes connected nan pitch. The winger besides mislaid half of his duels.

Given Barcelona’s slew of injuries, location will beryllium bigger tests for Alonso’s backline moving forward, but Real Madrid could beryllium getting themselves backmost to championship-winning ways if their defense continues to turn and improve.

Beyond Real Madrid’s strategies astatine some ends of nan pitch, Vinícius Júnior took halfway shape connected Sunday day for each nan incorrect reasons. The Brazil world was connected his measurement to delivering a awesome showing against Jules Koundé erstwhile his temper sewage nan amended of him.

Vinícius Júnior took rumor pinch Alonso’s determination to switch him pinch Rodrygo successful nan 72nd minute, all-but losing his caput arsenic he came disconnected nan pitch. The guardant stormed down nan tunnel while his teammates continued their conflict against Barcelona.

He yet returned to nan bench, but nan over-the-top guidance from Vinícius Júnior erstwhile again puts nan spotlight connected his narration pinch Alonso. The caller leader would not moreover look astatine his subordinate erstwhile he passed him connected nan touchline.

The past point Real Madrid request is simply a semipermanent rumor processing betwixt their superstar winger and their manager. Although Alonso insisted location is “no problem” betwixt himself and Vinícius Júnior, nan sound will only proceed to turn if much nationalist disagreements support coming.

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