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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that the last time he stepped onto 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. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle went on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic talking gesture. The match was challenging following with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, police pulling people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to resume this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling someone as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in the derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and four. But there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear at the top of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, if there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that this was “more than a win, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That belongs to last season, the coach stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak consecutively before Atlético visited and put 5 past them. The results were positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, it was the manner they won.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had five players who not begun a league game, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well during the match. Among comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing was from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “In the future 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 ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick