🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I win they can’t say a word,” the young star previously remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores derby winner as the Madrid club pull clear of Barcelona

When the match conclusion sounded on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of view and piling in, police separating people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he saying to another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, 5, 3 and 4. However there remains tomorrow and as it happened he was right.

Only once have the Catalan side previously won five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just a win, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of last season, Alonso said. Yet the next season, his term, began with six wins consecutively before Atlético came and scored 5 against them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, but also the way they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too the winger, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward among them. Among substitutes were five players who not begun in La Liga, 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 again. Additionally head coach was missing, Flick suspended 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 the team’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Among the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting the teenager by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for their defense, leakier compared to past with the defender leaving, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Girona three. Last year they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a start and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of our performance today,” Alonso said. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick