🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense latest clásico that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the classic talking motion. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were footballers everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, security pulling people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “They celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and 4. But there is always tomorrow and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking run concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration reflected this, players dancing in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, but where we come from and what it means for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, his term, started with six wins consecutively until Atlético came and scored 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. On the bench they had five players who not begun a league game, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack effectively during the match. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent created six clear chances against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Last year they trapped 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 likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick