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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” the young star once stated, however this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of Barcelona

As the final whistle went on a wild, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that was a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more disallowed; now it was too much.

All at once there were players everywhere, running back and forth of sight and piling in, security separating people away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “It was our youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, the French star had written: “They rejoice in our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, Madrid had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, 3 and four. But there remains the future and it turned out he proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona previously won 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. The coach said so too. Asked whether this was a relief, if existed a psychosis regarding big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach said. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with six wins consecutively until Atlético came and put 5 past them. The results were all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition were missing out: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all the things that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past with the defender departing, the pressure on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé 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, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did today,” the manager commented. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick