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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham scores clásico winner as the Madrid club pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 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 accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking motion. It had been challenging following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers all around, racing in and out of sight and piling in, police separating people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him telling another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our defeats as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, three and four. However there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side previously won five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. The coach echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, if existed a psychosis around big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just three points, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization emerging, an idea, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach said. But the next season, under his guidance term, began with a winning streak in a row before Atlético came and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had several individuals who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well during the match. Of all the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most revealing was from Vinícius during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for their defense, leakier than before with the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and the timing lacking, Levante created six clear chances against them, another team five, Sevilla 5, Girona three. Last year they trapped the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. They put the ball in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick