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“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied 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 their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. And, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, security pulling individuals apart. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, he telling someone else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. However there is always tomorrow and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run ending with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if this was a relief, if there had been a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, eastern side and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured five games in the global tournament, signs of a structure developing, an idea, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, the coach said. But the new campaign, his term, started with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 against them. The results were positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, it was the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, Levante made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning and also a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of our performance today,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick