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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. He also provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

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

When the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Carvajal did the classic talking gesture. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, running in and out of view and piling in, police separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he telling another player as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, three and four. However there is always tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona previously won 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 versus 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 five points ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. Asked if this was a relief, if existed a mental block around big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, but our recent history and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals came and scored five past them. The results were all well and good defeating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they defeated one of them too. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, others who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack once more. Even their manager was absent, Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous compared to past with the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick