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“Whenever I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star previously remarked, however this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would see him outside; the message was words mean little. This included only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest clásico that felt a little like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, 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 went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and additional efforts disallowed; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly appeared players everywhere, running back and forth of view and piling in, security separating people away from each other. In the middle the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him telling someone else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, three and four. But there is always tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever won five clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola historic streak ending with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points ahead at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members dancing together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “more than a win, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, indications of tactical organization emerging, a game plan, however then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals visited and put five against them. It was all well and good beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. And not only that Madrid won, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players unavailable: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun in La Liga, two more who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it in attack again. Additionally head coach was absent, Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well during the match. Of all the things that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by saying: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous compared to past after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require much of what we did today,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick