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“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, however on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a recollection that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

When the final whistle went on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal made the classic talking motion. The match was hard enough following with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were players all around, running back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling another player else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost a derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and four. But there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured 5 clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just three points, and our recent history and its importance to us; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season they had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, his term, started with six wins in a row until city rivals visited and put 5 past them. It was positive beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. And not only that they triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who not begun in La Liga, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier than before after the defender departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently positioned to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick