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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star previously remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

When the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated latest clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared players everywhere, racing in and out of view and converging, police separating people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling another player else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our defeats as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and four. However there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid required this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members celebrating together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. Asked whether the win represented a relief, or there had been a mental block around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just three points, and where we come from and its importance to us; the players required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach said. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, began with a winning streak in a row before Atlético came and scored five against them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. Moreover not only that Madrid won, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes they had several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. And defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Additionally head coach was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous compared to past with the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and the timing lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored three goals, Madrid consistently likely to create chances now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “In the future we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick