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“Whenever I win they are unable to say a word,” the young star once stated, but this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. And, an adult currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets clásico winner as the Madrid club pull clear of Barcelona

When the match conclusion went on a wild, heated latest clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal made the classic talking motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of view and converging, security pulling people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to someone else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, 5, 3 and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever won five derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, 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 five points clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, team members dancing in circles. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “more than three points, and where we come from and its importance to us; the boys required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, his term, began with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and scored 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they won, but also the way they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were absent. So too the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Additionally 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.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well during the match. Of all comments that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier than before with the defender departing, the pressure on passers dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. This was a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick