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“As long as I win they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, but on this occasion he came up short and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to 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 this epic clash, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. He also provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

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 taking it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals recorded and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly appeared players everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, security pulling people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, three and four. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points clear at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed this. The celebration said so, team members dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked if the win represented a relief, or there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “not just three points, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of last season, the coach stated. But the new campaign, his term, started with six wins in a row before Atlético visited and put 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they defeated one of them as well. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they won.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Among comments directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent created six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Girona three. Last year they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick