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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once stated, however on this occasion he came up short and opponents were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a recollection that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like past encounters, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the classic talking motion. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once there were footballers all around, racing in and out of view and piling in, security separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, him saying to another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “They celebrate our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, five, three and four. However there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won 5 clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola historic run concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium louder and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that this was “not just three points, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players required that feeling of winning a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. They did not achieve one victory versus a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach stated. But the next season, his term, started with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and put five past them. The results were positive beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match in attack again. Even head coach was absent, Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player that day, maybe the most revealing was from Vinícius during the game, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and the timing off, Levante made six clear chances against them, Rayo 5, Andalusian side five, Girona three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he got a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. This was a beginning as well as an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance today,” the manager said. The team had shots in the net five times – three disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick