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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, however this time he came up short and they closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough 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 ruled out; now it was impossible.

Suddenly appeared players all around, racing back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, he telling another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the end, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five derbies in a row, under Guardiola record-breaking run concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. Likewise, the noise, their stadium louder and intense than for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, but our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won five games in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization emerging, an idea, however they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, the coach said. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row until Atlético came and put five past them. The results were positive defeating Oviedo, island team and Osasuna but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were five players who not begun in La Liga, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent created multiple opportunities against them, another team 5, Andalusian side 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. This was a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick