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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

As the final whistle went on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic talking gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, police separating people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling someone as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender also present. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and four. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever secured 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding important matches, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the players needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but then came PSG.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. But the next season, his term, began with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and put five past them. It was positive beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the way they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, an important player might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front again. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all comments that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling was from Vinícius during the game, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, more porous than before after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, Levante made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. This was a start and also an end in itself. “Going forward we will require much of our performance today,” Alonso said. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick