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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, but on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, 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 reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking motion. It had been challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, racing in and out of sight and converging, police separating people apart. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he telling another player as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. However there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. The celebration said so, players celebrating in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. Asked whether this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a psychosis regarding big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “more than three points, and where we come from and its importance to us; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, Alonso said. But the new campaign, his season, began with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals came and scored 5 against them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, but also the way they won.

Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player might now be fully recognised by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front again. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club three. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored three goals, Madrid always likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. This was a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of what we did in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick