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“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” the young star once stated, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. And, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest clásico that felt a little like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking gesture. It had been hard enough following with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was too much.

Suddenly there were players all around, running in and out of sight and piling in, police separating individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to continue this down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, he telling another player else they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder said.

Shift in Momentum

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four encounters, the team had lost four times, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded 4, 5, 3 and four. However there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run concluding with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go five points clear in first place of the table.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether this was a relief, if there had been a mental block around important matches, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that this was “more than a win, but our recent history and what it means to us; the boys needed the experience of winning a major fixture.”

Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against 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, an idea, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That is part of the prior year, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, his season, began with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and put 5 past them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, but also the way they achieved it.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were absent. So too the winger, an important player might now be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian during the game, taunting the teenager by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for their defense, more porous than before after the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward offside eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. This was a beginning as well as a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick