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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, however this time he came up short and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they would meet him outside; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in Mataró implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. He also offered a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough 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 three more ruled out; now it was too much.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, security separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, he telling someone as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our defeats as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak ending with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, 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 five points ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. The celebration said so, players dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy than for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis regarding big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just a win, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games in the global tournament, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, the coach said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals visited and scored 5 against them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. And not only that Madrid triumphed, but also the way they won.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too the winger, an important player might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes were five players who not begun in La Liga, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. And defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Even their manager was absent, Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need much of what we did today,” Alonso commented. They put shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick