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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but this time he didn’t win and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear back in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking motion. The match was challenging following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were footballers everywhere, running back and forth of view and converging, police separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to someone as well they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star had written: “They rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and four. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously secured five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run ending with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just a win, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured five games in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of the prior year, the coach stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance term, began with six wins in a row until city rivals came and scored 5 past them. It was positive beating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. And not only that Madrid won, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for their defense, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination off, one opponent created six clear chances against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had shots result in goals five times – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick