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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid rob 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 braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

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

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal made the old talking gesture. It had been challenging following with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once there were footballers all around, racing in and out of sight and piling in, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to someone as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his countryman, the defender there too. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and four. But there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, if existed a psychosis around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, and where we come from and what it means to us; the players needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, began with six wins in a row until city rivals came and scored five against them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover not only that they triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes they had several individuals who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively during the match. Of all the things that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they caught the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did today,” Alonso commented. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick