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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, however on this occasion he came up short and they closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were players all around, racing in and out of sight and converging, police pulling individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, three and four. But there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. The celebration 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,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, or existed a psychosis regarding big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than three points, and where we come from and its importance to us; the boys required that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of last season, the coach said. Yet the next season, under his guidance term, began with six wins consecutively before Atlético came and put five against them. The results were all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover not only that Madrid won, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun a league game, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally head coach was absent, Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack well during the match. Of all the things that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination off, Levante created six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance today,” Alonso said. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick