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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” the young star once remarked, but on this occasion 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 see him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber gesture. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that happened 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 impossible.

Suddenly appeared players all around, running back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he telling someone as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. However there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured 5 derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing in circles. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, if existed a mental block around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than a win, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won several victories in the global tournament, signs of a structure developing, an idea, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. Yet the next season, his season, started with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals visited and scored five past them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. On the bench were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing was from Vinícius during the game, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past with the defender leaving, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance today,” the manager said. They put shots in the net five times – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick