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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the match conclusion went on an intense, intense latest clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts disallowed; now it was too much.

All at once there were footballers all around, racing back and forth of sight and converging, police separating individuals apart. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume this down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, 5, three and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won five derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense than for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether this was a relief, if there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that this was “not just a win, but our recent history and what it means to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That belongs to last season, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, his term, began with six wins in a row before city rivals visited and scored 5 past them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival too. And not only that they won, but also the way they won.

The opposition were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was missing, Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on passers dropping and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always likely to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start and also a significant result. “In the future we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick