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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a recollection that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the classic talking gesture. It had been hard enough following with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, running back and forth of sight and piling in, police pulling individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue this down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was our youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, three and 4. However there is always the future and as it happened he was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points clear in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, team members dancing together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “not just a win, and where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively before Atlético visited and put five past them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, but they did not attack well on Sunday. Among the things that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team 5, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid consistently likely to create chances now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso said. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick