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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to 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 outside; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a recollection that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

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

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic talking motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, racing in and out of sight and converging, security pulling individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him telling another player else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “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 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and 4. However there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. The coach echoed this. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, the coach said. But the next season, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak in a row until Atlético came and put 5 past them. It was positive beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they won.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Additionally head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before with the defender leaving, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, Levante created six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick