Real Madrid vs Barcelona is always a massive tie - but Sunday's meeting was especially big for Xabi Alonso.

Last month's 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid saw sharp criticism focus on the manager. It was a hugely embarrassing loss, and entirely derailed the positive mood around his start at the Bernabeu.

It also gave new life to concerns about the team's ability to compete in big games, concerns that first surfaced following the 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup.

Even though they had won every other game this season apart from that Atleti fixture, Alonso and his staff felt another slip-up would raise the stakes.

They had the impression that if they did not deliver good results in a key run of games against Juventus, Barcelona and Liverpool, they would be shown a yellow card by the club.

They beat Juve 1-0 last Wednesday, and Sunday's 2-1 victory over Barca means Madrid now lead the defending champions by five points in LaLiga. They travel to Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday having won three from three in the competition.

The Clasico victory, above all, was a hugely important one for Alonso and his new coaching team, as...