Real Madrid secured a crucial 2-1 victory over rivals Barcelona in the recent El Clásico held at the Santiago Bernabeu, a result that propelled them to a five-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings. The winning goal came from Jude Bellingham, who also provided a superb assist to Kylian Mbappe for the opening goal, highlighting his pivotal role in Los Blancos' success.

Despite the significant win, the match was not without its internal drama for Real Madrid. Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. expressed considerable anger after being substituted in the 72nd minute, marking the seventh time this season he has been taken off prematurely. Broadcast audio from DAZN captured his reactions, including exclamations of "Me?!" and yelling "Coach, coach!" at manager Xabi Alonso upon seeing his number for substitution. As he left the pitch, visibly displeased, Vinicius reportedly yelled at assistant coach Sebas Parilla, stating, "Always me! I’m leaving the team; it’s better if I leave. I’m leaving!" This incident underscores a perceived shift in Vinicius's previously 'untouchable' status, as Alonso implements a rotation policy, having started him in 10 of 13 games but only allowing him to finish three. His frustration had also surfaced during a previous substitution against Espanyol.

While Vinicius later cooled down and returned to the dugout, he was involved in a post-match fracas alongside other Real Madrid players like Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, and Thibaut Courtois, confronting Lamine Yamal over pre-match comments. This indicates a highly charged atmosphere surrounding the derby.

From a tactical perspective, legendary manager Arsène Wenger offered a sharp critique of Barcelona's performance. Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Wenger lauded Real Madrid's balanced tactical setup under Xabi Alonso, contrasting it with what he termed Barcelona's lack of a "cutting edge." He remarked that the match felt like "men against boys in some departments," emphasizing the superior defensive performance of Real Madrid. Wenger pointed out that Barcelona, despite enjoying significant ball possession in the second half after Mbappe missed a penalty, "never really looked like scoring a goal." He attributed Barcelona's struggles to a lack of maturity and experience in decisive moments, particularly noting the defense on Mbappe's goal. The absence of key players like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha further contributed to Barcelona's "toothless" attack, according to Wenger.