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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, men who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear back in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest clásico that was a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough following with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, racing in and out of sight and converging, police pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he saying to another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. Over four encounters, the team had lost four times, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever won 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, team members celebrating in circles. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, if there had been a mental block around big games, a fixation, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That is part of last season, the coach stated. But the next season, his term, began with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they had beaten one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are nineteen. And defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well during the match. Among the things directed at the young player that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he scored three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did today,” Alonso commented. They put shots result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick