Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona: Alonso wins first El Clasico
Real Madrid imposed intensity, Mbappe and Bellingham decided after two VAR; Yamal was locked, Vinicius was frustrated when leaving the field. The result helped Los Blancos 5 points ahead of Barca.
In Xabi Alonso's first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, the Bernabeu was filled with breathtaking intensity: Real suffocated Barcelona and won 2-1 in round 10 of La Liga. The match ended in a clash on the sidelines, with police having to intervene, while Alonso raised his fist in celebration. The victory helped Real Madrid increase the gap with their opponents to 5 points.
Development: VAR, turning point and Bellingham's cushion
From the very first minutes, Real Madrid pushed the tempo up and pressed suffocatingly, making it difficult for Barca to get rid of the ball. VAR appeared early: the referee initially pointed to the penalty spot for Real after a collision between Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior, before the technology reversed the decision.
Kylian Mbappe had the ball in the net for the first time after Arda Guler had dispossessed Fermin Lopez, but VAR determined the Frenchman’s toe was offside – the goal was ruled out. Shortly after, Mbappe got back in front of Jude Bellingham’s through ball, which VAR approved. Barca levelled the score at 1-1 when Guler hesitated on the edge of his own box, was robbed by Pedri and punished by Fermin.
Real did not back down. Vinicius broke free, crossed to the second post, Eder Militao headed back for Bellingham to tap in close range, making the score 2-1. At the end of the match, Mbappe's penalty was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper, and Barcelona continuously pressed the ball in the air while pushing Ronald Araujo to play as a center forward. For Real, Vinicius left the field in frustration in the 72nd minute, contributing to the controversy after the final whistle.
Tactical analysis: Diamond-shaped pressing block suffocates Barca
Alonso tweaked the familiar structure in a more flexible direction. Real created a mobile “diamond” in the middle of the field: Aurelien Tchouameni intercepted at the bottom, Arda Guler slightly to the left, Eduardo Camavinga to the right and Bellingham at the top but often dropped to the right to support the pressing. When losing the ball, Bellingham and Guler were the first two strikers to activate, blocking Barca’s central attacking routes.
Real’s formation moved as a unified unit, closing in on their opponents with great intensity. Lamine Yamal became the target of both the stands and the home defense: every touch of the ball was surrounded and under intense pressure. Ferran Torres was closely marked by Militao, limiting his penetration as much as possible. The fast pace prevented the offside trap and the ability to control the ball – Barca’s identity – from being used.
When they needed to release, Real moved lower, blocking the half-spaces and forcing Barca to attack from the wing, giving the centre-backs an advantage in aerial battles. The rationality in the role assignment – Tchouameni as the “anchor”, Camavinga with abundant energy in the right half-space, Bellingham covering the passing direction – helped Real take the initiative in every transition phase.
Late game adjustments: drop block, block high balls
In the last 10 minutes, Real showed signs of running out of steam and actively retreated deep, focusing on clearing the ball before crosses aimed at Araujo when Barca were all in. However, the tightness in the penalty area was still maintained enough to preserve the advantage.
VAR and key moments
- Real's penalty was overturned after VAR reviewed the collision between Yamal and Vinicius.
- Mbappe's first goal was disallowed for a very slight offside (toe).
- Mbappe's 1-0 goal from Bellingham's pass was recognized by VAR.
| Situation | Decision |
|---|---|
| Yamal - Vinicius collision in the penalty area | No penalty for Real |
| Mbappe finished after Guler stole the ball | Offside, goal not recognized |
| Mbappe scores from Bellingham's pass | Goal recognized |
Important statistics
- Score: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona.
- VAR intervention: 3 important situations (1 penalty cancelled, 1 goal cancelled for offside, 1 goal recognized).
- Vinicius left the field in the 72nd minute; after the match, a scuffle broke out and the police intervened.
- The gap in the rankings: Real Madrid is 5 points ahead of Barcelona.
- Last season, Real lost 4 consecutive matches to Barca, conceding 16 goals – a context that created pressure for this match.
Post-match reactions
“The victory was a bit modest,” Xabi Alonso said, suggesting the 2-1 scoreline did not reflect the full advantage of the pressing game. He also confirmed that he would deal with Vinicius’ lack of restraint after the player became frustrated at being withdrawn.
Impact: A declaration of power and the long run of La Liga
The first El Clasico win turned the match into Alonso’s tactical manifesto: structured pressing, high intensity, and coordinated play. Bellingham continued his scoring streak in the big game; Mbappe was both a spearhead and stretched the opposition defence. For Hansi Flick’s Barca, Yamal was locked down and a late overhead kick was not enough to turn the game around.
With these three points, Real Madrid have moved ahead in the race and shaken off the echoes of last season’s losing streak against Barca. When the intensity and structure of pressing is maintained, Real create the “rock & roll” version that the Bernabeu is waiting for – sharp enough to win the games that define the season.
