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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but this time he came up short and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt a little like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once there were players all around, running back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to someone as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. 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, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side previously secured 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, or there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, an idea, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That belongs to the prior year, Alonso said. But the next season, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak in a row before Atlético visited and put five past them. It was positive beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that they won, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward included. On the bench were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack again. Additionally head coach was missing, Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively during the match. Among the things that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for their defense, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso said. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick