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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, police separating individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to continue this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender there too. “It was our youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents celebrate our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. But there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “more than a win, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively until city rivals visited and put 5 past them. It was positive beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. And not only that Madrid won, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, others who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even their manager was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all comments that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. This was a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. They put the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick