El Clasico Unleashed: Alonso’s Madrid Dominate Barca in a Tactical Masterclass

Match Overview

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s new coach, restored the club’s aura with a valuable win in his first Clasico from the dugout, beating Barcelona 2-1 at the Bernabéu on Sunday in La Liga’s round ten.

Madrid could have sealed a bigger victory, and Alonso proved a clear edge over his German counterpart Hansi Flick, Barça’s coach who attended the game serving a one‑match ban, with his assistant Marcos Sorg taking charge.

Real Madrid left the pitch with two goals, while three other potential strikes were ruled offside thanks to the high‑line trap Flick has woven into Barça’s approach since last season, a tactic that has again given Madrid the upper hand in this fierce rivalry.

Real Madrid’s starting XI featured Thibaut Courtois in goal behind a defensive line that included Militao and Carieras, with Camavinga and Tchouaméni in midfield and a frontline of Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

Flick opted for Wojciech Szczęsny in goal, a back four that included Jules Kondi, Pau Cubarci, Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde, with Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López in midfield behind a front three of Marcus Rashford, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal.

Alonso’s Madrid pressed with menace and compact defensive shape, forcing Barça to attempt longer balls and denying easy build‑ups from the back, a blueprint that has dominated many Clasicos in recent seasons.

The hosts’ physicality and mental focus kept Barça’s counters at bay, while Lamine Yamal endured boos amid controversy ahead of the clash, a reminder of the emotional backdrop surrounding this fixture.

The Madrid midfield won more duels and disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm, isolating Pedri and De Jong from connecting their lines, as Alonso’s men limited Barça’s ability to progress through the middle.

Barça’s plans suffered due to a combination of Madrid’s manpower and a conservative defensive line, with the visitors struggling to create clear chances and finding it hard to breach a well‑drilled Madrid rear guard.

In the hosts’ favour, Jude Bellingham delivered a standout performance, combining work rate, ball progression and goal threat, while Barca’s attackers found chances harder to come by as the game wore on.

Alonso’s approach limited Barça’s ability to exploit wide spaces, nullifying some of Lamine Yamal’s pace and playmaking, and Madrid benefited from disciplined defending and quick transitions to seal the result.

Bellingham shines... and Alonso makes Barcelona’s tasks easier

For Barça, the match exposed gaps in their physical and tactical state, with Yamal and Ferran Torres misfiring against a unit that pressed relentlessly and denied space to operate in dangerous zones.

As the clock ticked down, Madrid’s control of the tempo and space was evident, while Barça left Bernabéu with more questions than answers about their ability to sustain pressure and generate high‑quality chances against a well‑organized opponent.

Alonso’s men returned to Madrid with a win that tasted sweet for the new project, while Barça must regroup quickly to salvage momentum in the league and cup competitions, where the margin for error remains slim.