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“As long as I win they are unable to say a word,” the young star once stated, but this time he came up short and they closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness 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 the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, more mature currently, precisely twelve months later, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

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

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly appeared players all around, running back and forth of view and piling in, police pulling people apart. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling someone as well they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled our young,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever secured five clásicos consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin ahead in first place of the table.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, or existed a mental block regarding big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “not just three points, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win any. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure emerging, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak consecutively before Atlético visited and put five against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player that day, maybe the most telling was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before after the defender departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Previously they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, lost amid losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick