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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they would see him outside; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated latest clásico that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Carvajal did the old talking gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were players everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him telling someone as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and four. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously secured five clásicos in a row, under Guardiola historic run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members dancing together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and intense than for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block around big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

Last season they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, his term, began with six wins in a row until city rivals visited and put 5 against them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the way they won.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all comments that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start and also a significant result. “In the future we will require much of our performance today,” Alonso said. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick