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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” the young star previously stated, but on this occasion he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

When the final whistle went on a wild, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking motion. It had been hard enough following with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, running back and forth of sight and converging, police pulling individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “It was our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, league, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and four. But there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned if this was a relief, if existed a mental block around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means to us; the players needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of the prior year, Alonso said. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively until Atlético visited and put 5 past them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier than before after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid consistently likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. This was a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick