Madrid Breaks Barca’s Hex: Alonso Leads Real to a Clasico Triumph and La Liga Command

Match overview

Real Madrid ended their Clasico drought, beating Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday in La Liga round 10. The win lifts Madrid to the top of the table with 27 points, while Barca stay second on 22.

Turning points and goals

Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Madrid took the lead when Kylian Mbappé found the net in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Jude Bellingham. A prior goal for Real at 11 minutes was ruled out by VAR for offside, a reminder that even great games have their suspenseful early VAR check.

Barcelona levelled through Fermin Lopez in the 38th minute, thanks to a well-placed assist from Marcus Rashford, and the first half ended with Madrid ahead again as Mbappé struck in the 43rd minute, finishing a swift move on the left that put Madrid 2-1 up at the break.

The second half featured intense moments, including a 52nd-minute penalty for Real Madrid that was saved by Szczesny, keeping Barcelona in the contest. A series of chances followed, with Mbappé and Bellingham testing the Barca defense and Courtois making key saves at the other end.

Barça pressed for an equalizer, with Ferran Lopez again threatening and Liverpool? (Note: Adapted from the original match narrative) but Real Madrid held firm. The match saw tactical twists, including substitutions that sparked visible tension in Madrid’s camp, notably Vinícius Jr. being withdrawn in the 72nd minute and a heated moment after an on-pitch exchange between teams late in the game.

In the end, Barcelona’s push was undone by a late red card for Pedri in the 90+10 minute, as a second yellow sparked official and player clashes, and Real Madrid sealed the win with disciplined defending and a late push to close out the hour.

With the whistle, Real Madrid moved to 27 points and the top spot in La Liga, while Barcelona remained on 22, five points behind the leaders.

Finally, the derby drama didn’t end with the whistle. A few more moments of party-pooping controversy and a couple of sarcastic memes later, Madrid had their bragging rights back, at least for the time being.

Punchline: If Real keep this up, their trophy cabinet might start charging rent for all those visits to the Bernabéu.

Punchline 2: Barça’s plan now? Hire a weather forecaster— when the chances rain, they’ll need more than clouds to hide the goals.