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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” the young star previously remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

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

When the final whistle went on an intense, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain did the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once there were players all around, racing in and out of sight and converging, police separating people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue this down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured five derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points clear at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration reflected this, team members celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, but where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. But the next season, his season, started with six wins consecutively before Atlético came and scored 5 against them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Now at last they had beaten one of them too. Moreover not only that Madrid won, but also the manner they won.

Barcelona had players out: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, others who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Additionally head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most revealing was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier than before after the defender departing, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored three goals, Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick