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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona

When the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old jibber-jabber motion. The match was challenging following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared players all around, racing in and out of view and piling in, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, he telling someone else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened he was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured 5 derbies in a row, under Guardiola historic run ending with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a mental block around big games, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, but our recent history and its importance to us; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win versus a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach said. Yet the next season, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak in a row before Atlético visited and put five against them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them too. And not only that they won, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well during the match. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing was from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous than before after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination off, Levante created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they caught the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. They put the ball result in goals five times – three efforts ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick