🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” the young star once remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear back in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

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

As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the classic talking gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared footballers all around, racing in and out of view and piling in, security separating people apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to someone else they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required this. The celebration said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with six wins in a row before Atlético came and scored five past them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them too. Moreover not only that Madrid won, it was the way they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured only once; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled well during the match. Among comments directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination lacking, Levante made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Girona three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require a lot of what we did today,” Alonso commented. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick