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“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, however on this occasion he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. This included just the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

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When the match conclusion went on a wild, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking motion. It had been hard enough following with everything that happened in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly appeared players everywhere, running back and forth of view and converging, police separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to someone else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team had lost four times, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, 5, three and 4. However there is always tomorrow and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just a win, and where we come from and what it means to us; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won several victories in the global tournament, signs of a structure developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, his season, started with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and scored five past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca 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 manner they won.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were absent. So too the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who not begun in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front again. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, more porous than before after Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and the timing off, one opponent created six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Previously they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. This was a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick