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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” the young star once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking motion. The match was hard enough following with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, running back and forth of view and piling in, police separating people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration said so, players celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, if existed a mental block around big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the players required the experience of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak in a row until city rivals came and put five past them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. On the bench were five players who not begun a league game, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on passers dropping and the timing lacking, Levante created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Girona three. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance today,” Alonso commented. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick