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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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When the final whistle went on an intense, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once there were players everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, police separating people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he telling another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. But there remains the future and it turned out he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run concluding with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin clear at the top in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required this. The celebration said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. The coach echoed this. When questioned if the win represented a relief, if there had been a mental block around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just three points, and our recent history and its importance to us; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. Madrid won five games in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row before Atlético visited and scored 5 past them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. And not only that they won, but also the way they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. On the bench they had five players who not begun a league game, two more who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Additionally head coach was absent, Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among the things that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward offside eight times in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put shots in the net five times – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick