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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however this time he came up short 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; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona

As the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough following with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of view and converging, security pulling individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, three and four. But there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever won five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points clear in first place of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. So did the noise, their stadium louder and intense compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, if there had been a psychosis regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, and our recent history and what it means to us; the players required that feeling of winning a big game.”

Last season they had not won any. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, an idea, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, the coach stated. But the next season, his term, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals came and scored five past them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival as well. And it wasn’t just that they won, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started only once; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively during the match. Of all comments that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, mocking Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for their defense, leakier compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent created six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start and also a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. They put the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick