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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, however on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, 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, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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

When the match conclusion sounded on a wild, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once there were footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to someone as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, league, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded four, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a relief, or existed a psychosis around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just a win, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, an idea, but then came PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. But the new campaign, his season, started with a winning streak in a row until city rivals came and put 5 against them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them too. And not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun in La Liga, others who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well during the match. Among the things directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination off, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Girona three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. This was a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of what we did today,” the manager commented. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick