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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, but this time he came up short and they were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, yeah, they were going to meet him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve this epic clash, the teenager who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber motion. The match was hard enough following with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared players all around, running back and forth of sight and piling in, police separating people apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to continue this in the dressing room area. Vinícius was restrained, he telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, the French star posted: “Opponents celebrate our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, Madrid had lost four times, league, cup and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. But there remains the future and as it happened he proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously won five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking run ending with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid required this. The celebration reflected this, team members dancing together. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a psychosis regarding big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and London club all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That defeat belongs to last season, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with a winning streak in a row before city rivals came and put five past them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Finally they defeated a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they won, but also the way they won.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, an important player may at least be fully recognised by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and young forward among them. On the bench were several individuals who not begun a league game, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. And defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack again. Additionally their manager was absent, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Among the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most revealing was from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” As for that backline, more porous compared to past after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that 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 start as well as an end in itself. “In the future we will require a lot of our performance in this game,” the manager said. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick