“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, but this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.
Just before this epic clash, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid rob and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a recollection that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected 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, as opponents made sure.
Jude Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals
As the match conclusion went on an intense, intense 262nd clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.
All at once there were players everywhere, racing in and out of view and converging, police separating individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to stop his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.
In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four encounters, the team had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, 5, 3 and 4. However there remains tomorrow and it turned out he proved correct.
On just one occasion have the Catalan side previously won 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top in La Liga.
The Madrid squad required this. The celebration reflected this, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block around important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”
In the previous campaign they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. They did not achieve a single win versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.
That is part of the prior year, the coach stated. Yet the next season, his term, started with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético came and put 5 past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Now at last they defeated one of them too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the manner they achieved it.
The opposition were missing out: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes 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 a couple who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he has lost each one.
Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for their defense, more porous than before with the defender departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Previously they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently positioned to create chances currently.
Playing like this, in particular. This was a beginning and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso said. The team had shots result in goals five times – three disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick