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“Whenever I win they can’t say anything,” the young star previously stated, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

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

When the match conclusion went on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain did the classic talking motion. It had been challenging keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once there were players all around, running in and out of sight and converging, security pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to continue the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, the French star posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost a derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. However there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured five derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. When questioned if the win represented a relief, or existed a mental block regarding important matches, a fixation, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “not just a win, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals came and scored 5 against them. The results were all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they triumphed, it was the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player might now be fully recognised by his absence. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured only once; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even their manager was absent, Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. 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 defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among comments that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, more porous than before with the defender leaving, the pressure on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent made six clear chances against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. The match served as a beginning and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick