🔗 Share this article

“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however this time he came up short and they were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals

When the match conclusion went on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts ruled out; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, running back and forth of sight and piling in, security separating people apart. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling another player else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, ice cubes flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run concluding with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

Madrid required this. Their post-match joy reflected this, players dancing in circles. So did the noise, their stadium louder and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a relief, if there had been a psychosis around important matches, a fixation, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the players required the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won several victories in the global tournament, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row until city rivals visited and scored 5 against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward included. On the bench were several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, two more who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack effectively during the match. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, Levante made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning and also a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put shots in the net five times – three ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick