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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores derby winner as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared footballers all around, racing in and out of view and converging, police separating people away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him telling another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “It was our youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and four. But there is always the future and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever won 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking run concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points clear at the top of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration reflected this, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy than for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, or existed a mental block around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than a win, and our recent history and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won five games in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach stated. But the next season, his term, began with a winning streak in a row until Atlético came and scored five past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them too. And it wasn’t just that they won, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun in La Liga, others who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling came from Vinícius during the game, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid always likely to create chances currently.

Key Moments

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