🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, however this time he came up short and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they would see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Carvajal made the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more ruled out; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, running back and forth of sight and converging, police separating people apart. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he saying to someone as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his countryman, the defender also present. “It was our youth,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, 3 and four. However there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, players dancing in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “not just a win, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured five games in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, the coach said. Yet the next season, his season, started with six wins consecutively until Atlético came and scored five past them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward included. Among substitutes were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled well during the match. Among comments that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, maybe the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, mocking Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. This was a start and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. The team had the ball in the net five times – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick