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“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking gesture. The match was challenging following with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was too much.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, running back and forth of sight and converging, police separating people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling someone else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost a derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, Madrid had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and 4. But there remains the future and as it happened he proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing in circles. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether this was a relief, or existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just a win, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured five games in the global tournament, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, the coach stated. But the next season, his season, began with six wins consecutively before Atlético visited and scored five against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Now at last they defeated one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the way they won.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, an important player may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front again. Additionally their manager was absent, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination off, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, lost amid losses, is the fact in the last meeting he scored three goals, Real Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did today,” the manager commented. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick