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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied 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 the preachers in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. And, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

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

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, security separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost the derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. However there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side previously secured five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating together. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether this was a relief, or there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just three points, but our recent history and its importance to us; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat belongs to last season, the coach stated. But the next season, under his guidance term, started with six wins in a row before city rivals came and put five past them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too the winger, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with the defender departing, the pressure on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, Levante created six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. This was a start and also a significant result. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did today,” the manager commented. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick