'Men against boys' - Xabi Alonso given all the credit by Arsene Wenger as 'much stronger' Real Madrid beat 'ineffective' Barcelona

Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham struck for the capital club to cancel out Fermin Lopez's strike as Alonso's side sealed a vital three points in the first Clasico of the season. It could have been worse for the visitors, given Madrid had a penalty overturned in the early stages of the game and had a spot kick saved by Wojciech Szczesny in the second half.

Wenger provided a blunt assessment of the gap between the two rivals, praising Real Madrid's tactical and physical superiority under Alonso. He contrasted Los Blancos' clinical attack with an impotent Barcelona, who held 52 per cent possession but managed only six shots on target from 13 attempts, compared to Madrid's nine on target from 21 shots.

"El Clasico was a bit like a duel between men and boys. Real Madrid's defence was much stronger than Barcelona's," Wenger stated. "In attack, Madrid always looked capable of scoring, while Barcelona seemed ineffective. They had a lot of possession, but never really seemed capable of scoring. I give credit to Xabi Alonso. He balanced the team well to end up being superior. They defended well, pressed their opponents and created dangerous chances, scoring two goals and missing a penalty. They clearly played a good game and, for me, they deserved to win this match against a Barça that showed very little up front."

Alonso backed Wenger's assessment, stating his team was "very motivated" and that the result was crucial beyond the league table.

“It was a deserved win — and even a short one," Alonso said. "We created chances, had the penalty… and this helps us recover that sense of being a competitive team in big games."

The manager emphasised the importance of the victory for the squad's confidence. “It’s important. You yourselves are saying it. It’s not just the three points," Alonso explained. "We know that it’s still October and it’s early... But we wanted good feelings and that’s how it was. I’m very happy for the boys. They needed this feeling of winning a big game. The motivation was complete."

He also highlighted the atmosphere in the stadium: "I saw both the team and the stadium enjoying the moment. It was important for the fans to see that their team can compete and win big games."

Despite the dominant performance, the match featured a moment of high tension when Vinícius Jr was substituted in the 72nd minute. The Brazilian winger was seen ranting as he walked past Alonso, initially storming down the tunnel before returning to the dugout.

The outburst comes amid a delicate contractual situation. Vinícius will have only one year left on his contract at the end of the season, and negotiations for a new deal have reportedly stalled. Reports in Spain suggest the relationship between the player and club is fractured, with speculation that Madrid could be willing to sell the star if a substantial offer is made.

Alonso moved quickly to defuse the controversy in his press conference, insisting the matter would be handled internally and refusing to let it overshadow the victory.

"In what was a great game, Vini also contributed a lot," he said, adding: "When the time comes, we’ll talk about it in the dressing room."

Alonso also dismissed post-match scuffles, which involved Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, as "natural tension" and "healthy banter" typical of a Clasico.

The manager was particularly pleased with his tactical setup, which saw Madrid press high and defend in organised, compact lines. He gave specific praise to Jude Bellingham, who scored the decisive second goal after assisting Kylian Mbappe for the first.

"He’s had three very good games," Alonso said of the Englishman. "Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting. That’s why he’s had some very good games. He connects with everything — the ball, the fans, and his teammates."

The 2-1 victory solidifies Real Madrid's position at the top of the La Liga table with 27 points. Barcelona remain in second place, now five points adrift on 22 points.

Both clubs will likely face suspensions following a fiery end to the match. After Pedri was dismissed with a second yellow card late in the game, a brawl erupted which saw Real Madrid's substitute goalkeeper Andriy Lunin sent off for his role as the referee brandished his card several times.

Despite the crucial win, Alonso urged caution: "We mustn’t get too carried away. Stay calm. And keep going."