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“Whenever I win they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham scores clásico winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, racing in and out of view and piling in, security separating people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always the future and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously secured 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid required this. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense than for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether this was a relief, if existed a mental block around important matches, a fixation, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, his season, began with six wins in a row before Atlético visited and scored five past them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who not begun in La Liga, others who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Additionally their manager was absent, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all comments directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side five, Girona three. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. This was a beginning and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick