🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” the young star previously remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would see him outside; they told him words mean little. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, men who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Carvajal made the classic talking gesture. The match was challenging following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; now it was too much.

All at once appeared players all around, running back and forth of view and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling someone as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team had lost four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. However there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block around big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, but our recent history and its importance to us; the boys required that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, an idea, but they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That is part of last season, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, his season, began with six wins consecutively before Atlético came and put 5 against them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. On the bench they had several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, leakier compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and coordination off, one opponent made six clear chances against them, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

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