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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however this time he came up short and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal made the classic talking motion. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were players all around, racing back and forth of sight and converging, police separating people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to continue this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and 4. However there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured five clásicos in a row, under Guardiola historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, but our recent history and its importance to us; the players required the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively until Atlético visited and scored five against them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, maybe the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier than before with the defender leaving, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he scored three goals, Real Madrid always likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. This was a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we will require much of our performance today,” the manager said. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick