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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

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When the match conclusion went on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been challenging following with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared footballers everywhere, racing in and out of sight and piling in, security pulling individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation 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 hurried to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated four times, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded four, five, three and four. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously secured 5 clásicos in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether this was a relief, if existed a psychosis regarding important matches, a fixation, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “more than a win, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys required that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization developing, an idea, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with six wins in a row until city rivals came and scored five against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward included. Among substitutes they had five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, maybe the most telling came from Vinícius during the game, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did today,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick