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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but this time he came up short and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham scores derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers all around, racing in and out of sight and converging, police separating people apart. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player as well they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was our young,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, 5, three and 4. But there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed this. The celebration reflected this, players celebrating together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. When questioned if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis regarding important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, and where we come from and its importance to us; the boys needed the experience of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, an idea, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, the coach stated. But the new campaign, his term, started with six wins consecutively until Atlético visited and scored five past them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid won, it was the manner they won.

Barcelona had players out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who not begun a league game, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally head coach was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Previously they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick