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“As long as I win they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but this time he came up short and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Carvajal did the classic jibber-jabber motion. It had been challenging following with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once there were footballers all around, running in and out of sight and converging, police pulling people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, 3 and four. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis regarding important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than a win, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with a winning streak in a row before Atlético visited and put 5 against them. The results were positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. And not only that they won, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. Additionally Raphinha, an important player might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack again. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well during the match. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most revealing was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier than before after the defender departing, defensive intensity on passers dropping and the timing lacking, one opponent created six clear chances against them, Rayo 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. This was a start and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance today,” the manager commented. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick