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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but on this occasion he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected 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. It was clear, they told him so.

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

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain did the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly appeared players everywhere, racing in and out of view and converging, police separating individuals apart. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he telling someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and four. However there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration reflected this, players celebrating together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense than on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, if there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that this was “more than a win, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure developing, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with a winning streak in a row until city rivals came and scored five against them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who not begun a league game, others who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Even their manager was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Among the things directed at the young player that day, maybe the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and the timing off, one opponent created six clear chances against them, another team five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, lost amid losses, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require a lot of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three efforts disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick