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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” the young star once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they were going to meet him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included just the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that happened 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 too much.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, police separating people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he telling someone else they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender there too. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, 3 and four. However there remains the future and as it happened he was right.

Only once had Barcelona previously won five derbies in a row, under Guardiola historic run ending with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of last season, the coach said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row until Atlético came and scored 5 against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past after Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination off, one opponent created six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club three. Last year they caught the French forward offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a start and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of what we did today,” the manager said. They put shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick