🔗 Share this article

“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected 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. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham scores derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

When the final whistle went on a wild, heated latest clásico that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Carvajal made the old talking gesture. It had been hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, running back and forth of sight and piling in, police separating individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he telling another player else they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “They celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the end, ice cubes flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won 5 clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, 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 the experience of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories in the global tournament, indications of a structure emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the next season, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. So too the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and young forward included. On the bench were several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who had started just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Additionally their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well during the match. Of all comments that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most revealing came from Vinícius during the game, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before with the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick