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“Whenever I win they can’t say a word,” the young star once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking motion. The match was hard enough following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, police pulling people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the end, ice cubes flying. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won five derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic run ending with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, if there had been a mental block around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure emerging, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, the coach said. But the next season, his term, began with six wins in a row before city rivals came and scored five against them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, it was the way they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Additionally head coach was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous compared to past after the defender departing, the pressure on passers decreasing and coordination off, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put shots in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick