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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they would see him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

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

When the match conclusion went on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and additional efforts ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once there were players everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, security pulling people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the end, ice cubes flying. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or existed a psychosis around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure developing, an idea, but then came PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. Yet the next season, his season, began with six wins consecutively until Atlético came and scored 5 against them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And not only that Madrid won, it was the manner they won.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were absent. Additionally Raphinha, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well during the match. Among the things that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we will require a lot of our performance today,” the manager said. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick