🔗 Share this article

“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but this time he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint 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, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as the Madrid club open a gap of their rivals

As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain did the classic jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals recorded and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly appeared players all around, running in and out of view and converging, security separating people away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our losses 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 being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid required this. Their post-match joy reflected this, players dancing in circles. So did the noise, their stadium louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “more than a win, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, his term, began with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético came and put 5 against them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them too. Moreover not only that Madrid won, it was the manner they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player might now be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and young forward included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among comments directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing was from Vinícius during the game, taunting the teenager by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick