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“Whenever I win they are unable to say a word,” the young star previously remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

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

As the final whistle went on an intense, heated latest clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain did the classic jibber-jabber gesture. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts ruled out; now it was too much.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, police separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, three and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side previously secured 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a weight off his shoulders, if existed a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, the coach stated. But the new campaign, his season, began with six wins in a row until city rivals visited and scored 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid won, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front again. Even their manager was absent, Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all comments that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing was from Vinícius during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous compared to past with the defender departing, the pressure on passers decreasing and coordination off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side five, Catalan club three. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. This was a start and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put the ball in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick