“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” the young star once remarked, but this time he came up short and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to see him off the pitch; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.
Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.
Jude Bellingham scores derby winner as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona
When the match conclusion went on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain did the classic talking motion. It had been challenging following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.
Suddenly there were players all around, running in and out of view and converging, security pulling people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.
Shift in Momentum
In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and 4. But there is always tomorrow and it turned out he was right.
Only once have the Catalan side previously won 5 derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic run ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.
Significance
Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”
In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of tactical organization emerging, an idea, but then came PSG.
Season Progress
That belongs to the prior year, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 against them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Now at last they defeated one of them as well. And not only that Madrid triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.
Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, whose significance might now be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who featured only once; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.
Game Breakdown
Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack effectively during the match. Of all comments directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier than before after Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Girona three. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.
Decisive Actions
With this approach, especially. This was a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick
