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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” the young star previously remarked, however on this occasion he came up short and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; they told him words mean little. And that was only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in his hometown implied that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking motion. It had been challenging keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared players all around, racing in and out of view and piling in, police pulling people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded 4, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and as it happened he was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. The celebration said so, team members dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a relief, if existed a mental block around big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season they had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That defeat belongs to last season, the coach said. But the next season, under his guidance term, began with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals visited and scored five past them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated one of them as well. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were absent. Additionally the winger, an important player might now be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun in La Liga, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most revealing was from the Brazilian during the game, mocking Yamal by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past after Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo 5, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, was that in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require a lot of what we did today,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick