🔗 Share this article

“Whenever I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star previously stated, but on this occasion he came up short and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a recollection that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster 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, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

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

As the match conclusion went on a wild, heated latest clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of accepting it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been challenging following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

Suddenly there were players all around, racing back and forth of view and piling in, police separating individuals apart. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to someone as well they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents celebrate our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the derby Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the final whistle, ice cubes flying. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever won five clásicos in a row, under Guardiola historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid required the victory. The celebration said so, team members celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned whether this was a relief, or there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with six wins in a row until Atlético came and scored five against them. It was positive beating newly promoted, island team and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they won, but also the manner they won.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. So too the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack again. Even their manager was absent, Flick banned and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among the things directed at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side five, Girona 3. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Decisive Actions

With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did today,” Alonso said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick