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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” the young star previously stated, however this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; they told him words mean little. This included just the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. And, more mature currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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

As the final whistle sounded on a wild, heated latest Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were players all around, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, police separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to someone else they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to intervene with his countryman, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we youth,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, the French star had written: “They rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the end, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they were beaten again. In four encounters, Madrid were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever secured 5 derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration reflected this, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, if existed a psychosis regarding big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, and our recent history and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, English team, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. The previous manager went and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with six wins in a row before Atlético visited and put five past them. The results were all well and good beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover not only that they triumphed, it was the manner they won.

The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had several individuals who hadn’t started in La Liga, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all the things directed at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, leakier than before with the defender leaving, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; yet, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick