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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” the young star previously stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic talking gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, racing back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals apart. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “They celebrate our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles flying. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid had lost four times, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, three and four. However there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won 5 clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a relief, if existed a mental block around important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just a win, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 against them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun in La Liga, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of our performance today,” Alonso commented. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick