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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided 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 – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion went on a wild, heated latest clásico that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough following with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, security pulling people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, Madrid had lost four times, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, 3 and four. But there is always tomorrow and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured five clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and more edgy than for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a relief, if there had been a mental block around important matches, a fixation, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the players required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, began with a winning streak in a row until Atlético came and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

Barcelona had players out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well during the match. Among comments that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting the teenager by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances against them, another team 5, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick