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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included only the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest clásico that was a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal did the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

All at once there were players everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to continue the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he saying to someone as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star posted: “They celebrate our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, three and 4. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured 5 derbies in a row, under Guardiola historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether the win represented a relief, if existed a mental block around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, the coach said. But the new campaign, his term, began with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals visited and scored 5 against them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna but what about elite opponents? Now at last they defeated a major rival as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they won.

The opposition had players out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among comments directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before with the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club 3. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of our performance today,” Alonso commented. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick