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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” the young star once stated, but this time he came up short and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been 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. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby winner as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle went on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic talking gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were footballers everywhere, running back and forth of view and converging, police separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he saying to another player else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our defeats as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and four. But there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won 5 derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a relief, or there had been a psychosis regarding big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, an idea, but then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, his term, began with six wins consecutively until city rivals came and scored five against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. And not only that they won, but also the way they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun in La Liga, two more who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Among the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past with the defender leaving, the pressure on passers dropping and the timing lacking, Levante made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Girona three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance today,” the manager commented. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick