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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but this time he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and moan, according to reports. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature now, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby winner as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion went on an intense, intense 262nd clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Instead of taking it, Carvajal made the classic talking gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; now it was impossible.

All at once there were players all around, running back and forth of view and piling in, police pulling people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, he telling someone else they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains the future and as it happened he proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona ever won 5 derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking run concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required this. Their post-match joy said so, players dancing together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense than for such matches in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach echoed this. Asked if the win represented a relief, or existed a psychosis around important matches, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just a win, and our recent history and what it means to us; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, started with six wins consecutively until city rivals came and put 5 past them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival as well. And not only that they won, but also the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack effectively during the match. Of all the things that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier than before with the defender departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo five, Sevilla 5, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he scored three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three efforts disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick