🔗 Share this article

“As long as I win they can’t say a word,” the young star once remarked, however this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid rob and complain, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

When the match conclusion went on a wild, heated latest clásico that felt somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared players all around, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, security separating people apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to continue this down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, he telling another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, 5, three and four. However there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid required this. The celebration reflected this, team members dancing together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy than for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block around important matches, a fixation, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than a win, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, his season, began with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 past them. It was positive beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them too. And not only that they triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, others who had started only once; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack well during the match. Among comments directed at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on passers dropping and the timing lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick