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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” the young star previously stated, but on this occasion he came up short and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; 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 claims he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid rob and complain, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been challenging keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, police pulling people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to resume this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he telling another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. However there remains the future and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and intense compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked whether this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a psychosis around big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means to us; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals came and scored five against them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them too. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they won.

The opposition were missing out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward among them. Among substitutes they had several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, others who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front once more. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and the timing lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently likely to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need much of what we did today,” Alonso said. They put the ball in the net five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick