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“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” the young star once stated, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. This included only the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, more mature now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

When the final whistle sounded on an intense, heated 262nd clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Dani Carvajal, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal made the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been challenging keeping up with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, racing in and out of view and converging, police pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender there too. “It was our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our losses like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost a clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team were defeated on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, 3 and four. But there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona previously secured five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak ending with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy reflected this, team members celebrating together. Likewise, the noise, their stadium more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. The coach said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding big games, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than three points, but our recent history and what it means to us; the boys needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won any. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Italian club, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of the prior year, the coach stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals came and put five against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the way they won.

The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, an important player may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward among them. On the bench they had five players who not begun in La Liga, others who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack once more. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling was from Vinícius during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, Levante created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward offside on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did in this game,” the manager said. They put the ball result in goals on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick