🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star once stated, however this time he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they would see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the final whistle went on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that was a little like old times, the Barcelona winger approached towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared players all around, racing in and out of view and converging, security separating people away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to another player else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Shift in Momentum

In April, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and 4. But there is always the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required this. The celebration reflected this, team members celebrating in circles. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a relief, or there had been a mental block regarding important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. There wasn’t one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, an idea, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, began with a winning streak in a row before city rivals visited and scored five past them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, it was the manner they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench were several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all the things that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for their defense, more porous than before after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots result in goals five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick