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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. This included only the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the match conclusion went on a wild, heated latest clásico that was a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic talking gesture. It had been challenging following with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; now it was too much.

All at once there were footballers all around, running back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling people apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether this was a relief, or existed a psychosis regarding big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals visited and put 5 past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination off, Levante made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Previously they caught Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. This was a beginning and also a significant result. “In the future we’re going to need much of our performance today,” the manager commented. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick