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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but this time he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they were going to see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham scores derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Carvajal did the old talking gesture. It had been hard enough keeping up with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once there were players everywhere, running in and out of view and converging, police pulling people apart. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender also present. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic run concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required the victory. The celebration reflected this, players dancing together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, or existed a psychosis around big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That is part of the prior year, the coach said. But the next season, his term, began with a winning streak in a row until Atlético came and scored five against them. It was positive defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover not only that Madrid won, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled well during the match. Among the things directed at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most revealing came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for that backline, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination off, Levante created multiple opportunities against them, another team 5, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Previously they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. This was a beginning and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put shots in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick