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“Whenever I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores derby winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the match conclusion went on a wild, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber motion. The match was challenging following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, security pulling individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, the team had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. But there remains the future and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever won five clásicos in a row, under Guardiola historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed this. The celebration said so, team members celebrating together. So did the noise, their stadium louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “not just three points, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance term, began with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Finally they defeated a major rival too. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. 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 has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination lacking, Levante made six clear chances against them, another team five, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. This was a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick