🔗 Share this article

“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star once stated, however this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; they told him words mean little. And that was just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, men who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona

When the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the old talking motion. 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 scored and additional efforts disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared players everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, him telling another player as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the derby Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, Madrid had lost on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and 4. However there is always the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won 5 clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, their stadium louder and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned if this was a relief, or existed a psychosis around big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than a win, but our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, the coach said. Yet the next season, his season, began with six wins in a row before Atlético came and scored 5 past them. The results were all well and good defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated one of them too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, it was the way they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, mocking Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier compared to past after the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante created six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did today,” the manager commented. They put the ball result in goals five times – three ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick