Madrid’s Magic, Bellingham’s Brilliance & Say Less, Lamine

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0:29Alan Shearer:Coming up on today's show... Kylian Mbappe! Jude Bellingham scores the winner as Real Madrid win a fiery, action-packed El Clasico. Marcus Rashford did get an assist in his first taste of this famous fixture, but it wasn't enough for Barcelona. Villarreal's impressive season continued as they eased past Valencia in a local derby. and Athletic Club's struggles continue this season as they're beaten at home by Getafe. Stay tuned for all the action.

1:10Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football La Liga episode with Alex Algeo in Madrid and Miguel Nica sadly not in Madrid. We're recording this the morning after the night before, or the afternoon before, of the first Clasico of the season, where Real Madrid prevailed. No gloating, please, Alex, at this point. Before we get on to the game itself, you've had quite a productive trip, haven't you? Yes, I have. I have had a brilliant time in Madrid. By the way, it's not the middle of the night. It looks like it's the middle of the night, like I've just come back in from the party, the post-Clasico party.

1:47Oh, have you just come in? You will never know. But no, it's very sunny. Beautiful day here in Madrid. It's been brilliant. I interviewed Ivan Rakitic, a head of the Classico. That will be on the podcast very soon. You can listen to that. Really interesting chat with Ivan Rakitic. Said some great things. So looking forward to that coming out. And then I'm off to Bilbao later as well to interview Emeric Laporte, which will be on the podcast very soon as well. Forming in Manchester City, of course. Yes, yes. Now Athletic Club. who lost to the weekend. We can talk about that. But yes, I was at the Clasico as well, which was, well, it's always brilliant, isn't it?

2:25The Clasico, an unbelievable atmosphere. And what's more, a win for Real Madrid to go five points clear at the top.

2:32Alan Shearer:Yeah, no, no. Wearing my white, los blancos. No floating. I did fear that Real Madrid might win that one. But before we discuss the game, let's see how Real Madrid managed to beat Barca the greatest players the grandest stage Barcelona and Real Madrid collide in El Clasico once again

3:06here's Vinicius Junior who is caught there by Jamal referee points to the penalty spot An early opportunity for Real Madrid to seize the initiative here.

3:22It will be checked. There isn't a great deal of contact there from Lamin-Yemal on Vinicius Jr.

3:34It is overturned, no penalty.

3:51Turned into the path of Kylian Mbappe. Oh, Kylian Mbappe. Extraordinary. Even a man in the most sublime form. But he's going to be denied. Xabi Alonso shakes his head. And it stays at 0-0.

4:16Oh, Bellingham's fed Kylian Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe, he's not to be denied a second time. Perfectly crafted by Jude Bellingham. And Kylian Mbappe does have his Clásico goal.

4:36Rashford. Into the path of Firmin López, who equalises emphatically.

4:47Barcelona won it back high up the pitch and Firmin Lopez has steered them level. Finishes Junior. It's a high cross which Militao keeps alive. Jude Bellingham scores. Jude Bellingham has his say on the biggest day for Real Madrid. He has been frustrated at times in the early part of this season, but he's made his mark today. Mbappe. Bellingham, back to Mbappe. Flag goes up. And Kylian Mbappe is denied another. They're looking at handball on Eric Garcia. The army's up. I don't think he can control that too much.

5:41Well, another change of mind and a Real Madrid penalty, and Barcelona will think themselves pretty aggrieved with that.

6:00Kylian Mbappe has the opportunity to just produce a bit of clear blue water between them and the champions here

6:13who wants his second their third Wojciech Czesny stands in his way Mbappe saved brilliantly by Wojciech Czesny a big strong arm to keep it at 2-1

6:33to Valverde Brahim Diaz sets off there are three white shirts racing away Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham into the net, flag up again will Real Madrid have been denied on a string of occasions now Pedri he slightly overran that as he slams into a challenge Pedro has been booked and he's off. And Barcelona will finish with 10.

7:07It is over. It is Real Madrid's night. They have beaten their greatest rivals and they are five points clear at the top of La Liga.

7:17Alan Shearer:Well, it's quite an eventful game. I thought there might be more goals and they could have been. There was quite a few, you know, VAR incidents and penalties and all sorts but overall I think probably Madrid edged it yes I think Real Madrid deserved to win for sure massive game for Jude Bellingham obviously been out injured people doubting him not in the England squad and five league classicos for Jude Bellingham he scored the winner in three of them so I think he answered his critics it's crazy to think he even has critics right but he was brilliant stepped up when it mattered the most incredible assist for the first goal as well.

7:58Kylian Mbappe, who's on fire as well. I think we wrote in the group to me, Mbappe, Hatcher, incoming. It felt like that. There's no stopping him at the moment. And Jude was great, but they definitely, yeah, they deserve the win. So yeah.

8:11Alan Shearer:Three winners in the Clasicos. That's something we have in common. Thought I'd throw that one in quick before he beats that record. Three and five. Yeah, similar. I think it was exactly the same, I think. Well, impressive. but two Englishmen in a Classico for the first time as well with Marcus Rashford, who had a decent game, I thought, with an assist. He'd obviously scored in the Champions League midweek, but Laminia Mal was very quiet, I thought. Yeah, but until after the final whistle. I mean, it kicked off a little bit. We love to see it though. Well, do we love to see it? I think you sort of need that drama, don't you?

8:51Alan Shearer:Well, it's all part of it in a Classico. It's all part of it, isn't it? It's a spectacle. And I think one or two of the Madrid players are having a go at Jumal, weren't they? At the end of the game, I think basically given it, you talk too much. Have they got a point? Yeah, I think so. I think so. I think he needs to be very careful, doesn't he? Especially because he's playing in the national team with Danny Carvajal obviously went over to him, just said, you know, too much chat. I think if you then go and play well and score a hat-trick in the Clasico, fine. But he didn't. So I think say less, say less, Lamin.

9:25Jude Bellingham put up an Instagram post with a little less conversation as a song. I like that. I like that a lot. Oh, did he? No, it's subtle, subtle. Subtle.

9:34Alan Shearer:Well, I suppose the thing is you're setting yourself up for a fall, but we've got to remember that he's still a very young man and learning, and hopefully we'll learn a lesson from this. Try and keep that till after the games is probably better, saying things. Yeah, he just probably needs to be a little bit careful. Hopefully he's got someone around him that will give him good advice. You know, just do your talking on the pitch. Yeah. And I think that's always the best thing to do. But I quite like it. You know, I know some people don't. But I quite like the fact that he's got a bit about him.

10:07Yeah.

10:08Alan Shearer:You know, he's got confidence. He doesn't mind. I don't mind. At least he's not bland and boring and just pipes up with the same old stuff that every other player were, we're only as good as the next game and da-da-da-da-da-da. And I actually find it quite refreshing. Now, people will dislike it. That's fine. But it's easily something different from the banality of how most players speak after games or even before games. Yeah, absolutely. I think it was a chat with PK as well. He was probably egging him on a bit. He's just saying Real Madrid steal, they cheat. But the one other player I think probably is he's similar I mean, in terms of personality and character, and he speaks out as a Vinicius Jr., maybe worth a mention.

10:52Also very young, substituted and was clearly fuming when he came off. But again, what do you think, Gary? It's not a great look, is it?

11:02Alan Shearer:Well, I don't mind getting the hump about going off because honestly, any player hates to be taken off. It's I mean, even in these days where we get way more substitutions than they used to get. it's understandable that you can get the hump but what you don't do is you don't storm down the tunnel yeah he came back out though didn't he he did came out he saw sense I think he'd obviously got a bit hot-headed probably needed to get out the way and then he did come back so that's fine back on the bench I don't mind I again I'll come back to my point you know it's emotional sport it's an emotional game and players get involved now obviously I'm not going to condone that kind of behaviour of storming down the tunnel or when it kicks off at the end.

11:47Alan Shearer:But it does add a little bit, as long as it doesn't go completely overboard, as long as the players... He probably even apologised later on to Xavi Alonso. And Rodrigo as well, I think. Yeah, because Rodrigo came on for him, obviously. So it's slightly insulting towards him. But it would have been in the moment. It's a massive game. It's a Clasico. They're winning. they look like you know it looks like all the glory and you want to share that glory at the end of the game you don't want to be sat in the dugout so I get it from both sides um but I'm sure I'm sure his coach would have you know put an arm around him later on saying no come on come on this you know but at least he cares and it's the you know and I don't mind that the actual game itself I thought was you know it was quite end to end there's a lot of I mean obviously Madrid had the better of it in terms of shots and shots on target.

12:42Alan Shearer:Although both teams had their efforts, Barcelona had most possession, as you would expect. The high line again, the high line again. Well, that's the way he plays. So you know that's going to be a case. They got away with one early, didn't they? Mbappe, fantastic. Yeah, it was so good. It was tight as well. It was just off, I think. Just. But where do you think they fell short then, Barcelona, yesterday? I just don't think. they didn't perform as well as, as they can. Obviously Madrid managed to keep Lamin-Yumal quiet on the pitch. That is. Yeah. Yeah. Avro Carreras had a really good game. I thought.

13:17Alan Shearer:Yeah. Yeah. He did really well. I think that away games in Clásicos are hard. I mean, I know there were exceptions last season. Barcelona were brilliant and a couple of occasions in the Bernabeu, but they are generally hard and it massively favors the home side. The support in itself is, I'm sure what was the atmosphere? Yeah, it was amazing. It was really, really good. Really good. And you don't really get away fans, do you, as such? I mean, you do get some nowadays. When I played, apart from the visiting president of the club and maybe the board, you wouldn't get any kind of away support at all.

13:53Alan Shearer:So it is very different. And when the away team scores in a Classico, it's bizarre, isn't it? The silence. Silence. Total silence. Total silence. I remember playing in the first Classico that I played And when Real Madrid scored, there was not a single sound in the stadium. And I was thinking, oh, it must have been disallowed. Because I've been used to English football where there's so many away fans. It was so different. But Mbappe was brilliant again. I know he missed a penalty. It was actually a fantastic save, wasn't it, from Chesney? Really good Chesney, yeah. Yes, absolutely. But the thing is, it was a year to the day, wasn't it, since the 4-0 win at the Bernabeu Barcelona last season.

14:33And I think a defeat like this in a Clasico at this stage of the season, now Real Madrid five points clear at the top. What do you think that, where does that leave Barcelona? How damaging is a defeat like this in a Clasico?

14:46Alan Shearer:I mean, five points, it sounds a lot, but it's not that much. But, you know, Javi Alonso's team, I mean, if he goes along the lines of Leverkusen, which when he was there, if that first season, if he keeps them as consistent and he clearly knows what he's doing. He's clearly got a strong personality as well, which you need at a club like Real. I think they're better organised overall as a team. They seem to know what they're doing. I think with Ancelotti, while he gave the players so much freedom and he would involve the players, it was a bit more free-flowing, a bit more off just playing with passion and imagination.

15:27Alan Shearer:whereas I think Alonso seems to be much more organised in the way his teams play and I think that might be beneficial to Real Madrid in the long term but Barcelona are a fabulous side they've got so much talent that you definitely can't say that it's done yet by any stretch of the imagination No, I was going to say the Liverpool game will be a good test for Real Madrid to see where they're at but Liverpool keep losing so it's not going to be such a great test No, but it will be an interesting game. Yeah, just to see the level. Yeah. But I think it's been a brilliant start for Alonso. Deserves enormous credit.

16:05Alan Shearer:Even though, if you're a very well-respected former player of the club who'd achieved so much there, he's still a very young manager, very young coach. He's only had a couple of two or three seasons coaching. So I think he's really, really impressive what he's done so far. He's brought out the best in Mbappe. No question about that. best player in the world at the moment I would probably say so he's made such a great start to this season and it's not an easy job that is it Real Madrid manager managing those those egos in the dressing room but yeah he's doing a fantastic job he's got an aura about him doesn't he Xabi Alonso on the side he really does I think it's going to be a brilliant season for Real Madrid I really do I really do I think you said 2-1 as well I'm pretty sure you said 2-1 you said my heart says Barcelona my head says Real Madrid I think they're going to win 2-1 because I said 2-2.

16:55Alan Shearer:I hate my head. I hate my head. You hate your head, yeah. Yeah, I wanted my heart to win, but it didn't, sadly. But yeah, it wasn't Barcelona's best display, particularly as they pulverised Real Madrid and all the Clasicos last season. But don't forget, they have got a couple of injuries as well. Yeah, and Hansi Flick wasn't on the touchline because he was suspended up in one of the boxes. Does that have an impact, really, with your manager when he's not down there? I don't know. No, I used to ignore them anyway because they used to drive you mad shouting on the touchline. So Luis Enrique sometimes sits in the stand.

17:31Alan Shearer:I think he's taken on board kind of the from the rugby, obviously. There's a better view from other. Well, you certainly get a better view. There's no question about that. You can oversee the game, but you can't get that hands on feel to players, particularly now as they all stand in the little white boxes, don't they, where they are. So, I mean, it's impossible. it's an impossible equation to prove that one isn't it whether it's better or not yeah yeah that's yeah a big win for Real Madrid and a day off for them today they were supposed to be training but that was cancelled and they've been given two days off wow see that's good coaching that's the kind of coach I used to like the ones that come in when you win a big game they go there's two days off I'm really pleased for Jude particularly having been left out the England squad now I suspect that might be because He's only just come back, started playing again.

18:23Alan Shearer:I hope that's what it is. I can't imagine he'll be left out. I mean, he's a superstar. There's no one better where he plays. No. Surely. He could cover so much ground. I mean, he's brilliant defensively as well. He wins the ball so much. But on the ball, he's so silky. His passing is great. He can run with the ball. He's got it all. And it was only a matter of time before he got himself fit and flying again. which is good news for obviously Real Madrid, but also for England. Do you think he goes straight back in to that England squad in November? If he's not, I'll be astonished. You've got to do what he's just done in Clasico and then not be picked again.

19:07Alan Shearer:Now that will, there would be some headlines, a lot of headlines. Surely. No, that won't happen. He'll be death, mark my words. I love that they all sing Hey Jude as well at the Bernabeu. I know. I was singing yesterday. It was so good So good Anyway Sorry Gary I know it wasn't so good For you the result But No Disappointing for Barca fans But But they'll be hard To beat at home It's quite late In the season Isn't it The South Which I think They've done hopefully So the stadium's open Oh yeah Finally Yeah Yeah Who impressed you You were at the game You always get a better view Of things there Who impressed you Barcelona or Real Madrid Well no Real Madrid It was Real Madrid's day Really wasn't it Yeah I thought But, you know.