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Jude Bellingham achieved his first league goal and assist of the season following a challenging period of recovery from shoulder surgery.
Kylian Mbappe maintained his impressive scoring streak, while Alonso's strategies in his inaugural Clasico as coach proved effective.
However, the issue surrounding Vinicius Jr emerged once again.
Displeased with being substituted in the 72nd minute, the Brazilian forward expressed his frustration by walking right past his manager and storming into the tunnel, only to return to the bench a few minutes later.
BBC Sport consulted Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague for insights on an intense Clasico at the Bernabeu, and whether Vinicius' icy relationship with the club could ever improve.
Alonso's approach yields benefits for Bellingham
In terms of first Clasicos, Alonso had a noteworthy experience. Seven of Real Madrid's last eight managers faced defeat in their initial Spanish league encounter with Barcelona.
After the lackluster, player-centered tactics of Carlo Ancelotti fell short last season, Alonso's positional strategy delivered its most significant outcome to date.
"He got it right. Real Madrid played excellently, while Barcelona struggled due to Real Madrid's performance," Balague remarked to BBC Sport.
"When not in possession, they maintained a high press for as long as possible, and if they were outplayed, they regrouped effectively, everyone included Vinicius.
"They defended in two lines with a separation of five to ten meters. Barcelona couldn't penetrate."
The revamped system appears to favor Bellingham, who last season had been tasked with an overwhelming workload in midfield.
On paper, the 22-year-old occupied a right midfield position, but in reality, he enjoyed the flexibility to drift inside and either support Mbappe or penetrate the penalty area.
"Deploying Eduardo Camavinga in central midfield adds more dynamism and creates additional avenues to shut down channels," Balague explained.
"This necessitated placing Bellingham on the right flank. I'm confident he was advised to monitor Mbappe's runs when he possessed the ball and had space, which he successfully did several times.
"He was instructed to enter the penalty area and position himself near its edge, where he poses a significant threat. Additionally, he ventured inside to congest the inner channels, complicating matters for Barcelona."
Vinicius' tensions exposed
There's no doubt about the affection Madridistas have for Vinicius, as his name was frequently chanted by an enthusiastic Bernabeu crowd.
Yet, there have been numerous reports recently indicating that Los Blancos might entertain offers for him if the right one materializes.
By the end of the season, Vinicius will have just one year left on his contract, but discussions regarding a new agreement have stalled.
The player’s response to being substituted with 20 minutes still to play reflected the strained dynamics at play.
As Vinicius exited the field, cameras from the broadcaster DAZN captured the Brazilian expressing his frustration: "It’s always me! I’m leaving the team! I’m going! It’s better if I go, I’m leaving."
After hastily making his way down the tunnel, Vinicius made his way back to the bench for the last part of the match.
However, the tension didn’t end there.
Once the final whistle blew, he had to be held back as he tried to approach Lamine Yamal.
"Everyone has a right to criticize him, and rightly so, as it disrespected Rodrygo who came on for him," Balague commented.
"Since childhood, he's been in a hostile environment, leading him to feel that the world is against him.
"This mindset is hard to overcome, especially when you’re on the brink of being the best in the world, only to feel the club shifting focus towards Mbappe as the main star.
"Throughout this season, he has sensed that the club isn’t safeguarding his interests. There are reports circulating, possibly leaked by the club or not denied by them, indicating that they wouldn’t object to a 250 million euro (£218m) offer for him if it came along.
"He is aware of all this, and when Alonso substituted him—rightly so, since Vinicius wasn’t tracking back as he needed to—he thinks, 'why me, why am I the one again?'.
"It will be challenging to repair the relationship between the club and Vinicius at this time."
Barcelona style ‘falls apart’
Following their victory in all four Clasicos last season, Sunday’s display reflected Barcelona’s shaky beginning to this campaign.
Injuries have sidelined key players such as Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Dani Olmo, leaving manager Hansi Flick with a system that isn’t functioning without them.
"It seems the entire team is somewhat dull without the ball, showing less eagerness to regain it and lacking the aggressiveness needed to reclaim possession," Balague noted.
"They are easier to attack. If the defense isn’t flawless, as seen with the Mbappe goal where Alejandro Balde kept him onside, then they are further hindered by the midfield and forwards who aren’t applying pressure on the ball as they should."
Lamine Yamal, who caused Real Madrid significant problems last season, was mostly kept under control.
"Their key players weren't performing at their peak. Lamine doesn’t appear to be in top form, possibly dealing with groin issues that prevent him from fully showcasing his abilities."
The Barcelona team from a year ago, which caught Mbappe offside on eight occasions while featuring players like Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine together, is currently a thing of the past.
"They certainly feel the absence of Raphinha not only in their attacking play but also defensively, due to the intensity he brings."
Since his loan arrival from Manchester United, Marcus Rashford has been a prominent figure for Barcelona, but on Sunday, he appeared less effective.
"He attempted to pose a threat on the left-wing, but frequently found himself isolated and unable to get past the Madrid defenders," Balague noted.
"Barcelona moved forward too hastily, requiring him to take on one, two, or three defenders at once.
"He seemed somewhat alone and lost possession frequently in the second half. Although he didn’t create many scoring chances, he did provide an assist for the goal. That came after Barcelona regained possession for the second time in 40 minutes. They don’t manage that frequently, which causes their style to unravel."
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