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“As long as I win they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion went on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking gesture. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were footballers all around, racing in and out of sight and converging, security pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, he telling another player as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, 5, three and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won five clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration reflected this, players dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. The coach said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than a win, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of a structure emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, started with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals came and put 5 against them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among the things that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with the defender leaving, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club three. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid losses, is the fact in the last meeting he got three goals, Real Madrid always likely to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of what we did today,” Alonso said. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick