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“Whenever 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. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared players everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, police pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, the team had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won 5 derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, team members celebrating in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense than for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if this was a relief, if existed a psychosis regarding important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, but where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, his term, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals came and put 5 past them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the way they won.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Additionally head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively during the match. Among comments that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, leakier compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had the ball in the net five times – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick