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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic talking motion. The match was hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, security pulling individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume this down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded four, 5, three and four. But there is always tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured 5 derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required the victory. The celebration reflected this, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense than for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. The coach said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, or there had been a mental block around big games, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure developing, an idea, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. But the next season, his season, started with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals came and scored five past them. It was all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively during the match. Among comments that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. This was a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. They put shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick