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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however on this occasion he came up short and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals

When the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the classic talking motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, running back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals apart. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his countryman, the defender there too. “It was our young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost a derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, three and four. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened he proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever secured 5 clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. When questioned whether this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure developing, an idea, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach said. But the next season, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and scored 5 past them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And not only that they won, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. On the bench they had five players who not begun in La Liga, two more who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front again. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well during the match. Among the things that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier than before after the defender leaving, the pressure on opponents dropping and the timing lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Madrid always likely to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. They put the ball in the net five times – three efforts disallowed for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick