Real Madrid Commanding yet Vinicius Junior Issues Grow – Key El Clasico Takeaways
The match represented almost a flawless performance from Xabi Alonso's squad, who beat their arch-rivals by a 2-1 scoreline in El Clasico to stretch their advantage in first place in La Liga to five points.
Jude Bellingham scored his maiden goal in the league along with setup this campaign after a tough few months healing from shoulder surgery.
Mbappe continued his lethal performance in attack, while Alonso's tactics in his first Clasico in the dugout proved perfectly.
Yet the Brazilian's situation came to the forefront another time.
Dissatisfied with being substituted, the star forward ranted while walking directly past Xabi Alonso and marched down the tunnel, before returning to the substitute area several minutes.
Manager's Approach Yields Success from the Midfielder
In his first derby, this wasn't a bad one, especially since the majority of Real's previous eight bosses lost their debut La Liga encounter with Barca.
Following the player-focused method from the previous coach did not deliver earlier, the new tactical system yielded its first major result.
Spanish football analyst noted, The strategy worked brilliantly. Real Madrid performed excellently, and the visitors didn't play well because of Madrid's tactics.”
Defensively, they applied pressure consistently, if overcome, they fell back in a structured manner, all players even Vinicius.”
The team's shape in two lines separated by a short distance. Barcelona were unable to break through.”
The tactical change looks to be good news for Bellingham, who last season had been tasked to do everything in the center and beyond.
In the lineup the young star played on the right, however he had the freedom to drift inward and support Mbappe or crash the penalty area.
Balague continued, “By using the French midfielder in the center, you get greater energy and better ability to close down the channels.”
“That forced the team to put Bellingham on the right flank. Undoubtedly he would have been asked to keep an eye on the forward's positioning in possession and found openings, and he found him a few times.”
“He was asked to enter the area and operate on just outside the box, where he poses a threat. He also came inside to block central spaces creating Barca's task very difficult.”
Conflict Issues Laid Bare
There's no doubting that Madridistas love Vinicius, his name were sung repeatedly by an enthusiastic home supporters.
Yet there have been various accounts in recent months that the club would consider letting him leave if an attractive proposal were to come in.
He will have a year left under his current terms come the end of the season, yet negotiations for an extension have not progressed.
The player's reaction when substituted in the second half spoke of strained relations. When the match ended, he was held back as he attempted to confront Lamine Yamal.
The expert commented, “Everyone will have a go at him for good reason, since it displayed poor sportsmanship for the substitute taking his place.”
However, from a young age, he has lived in a challenging environment, and he feels that everyone is against him.”
Such thinking is hard to change, notably when you consider yourself on the verge of the best player, but the team shifts the focus towards Mbappe as the star.”
“This season he believes that the organization has not supported him. There are stories, potentially club-sourced, or not denied by the club, that they wouldn't be unhappy if someone paid a quarter-billion euros for his transfer and allow him to leave.”
He is aware of this, and when Alonso subbed him – reasonably, because Vinicius stopped dropping back as he should – to him he thinks why single me out?’.”
It may be challenging to reconcile among the parties and the player currently.”
Their System “Struggles”
Following victories in each of the last season's derbies, the latest display represented their uncertain early form.
Fitness issues have left without Hansi Flick of key players such as Raphinha, the striker plus others, and his system isn't working when they are missing.
Balague stated, “It's like the whole team are slightly off without the ball, not as eager to regain possession, softer to reclaim the ball.”
They are more vulnerable to break them down. Should the defense is not perfect, as it wasn't the first goal since the defender played him onside, the midfield doesn't assist by the midfield and forwards not challenging those on the ball adequately.”
The young talent, tormentor-in-chief earlier, was kept largely in check.
The big names did not perform well. Yamal seems not in top condition, perhaps he's suffering from groin problems