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“As long as I emerge victorious they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal previously remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they would see him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, as opponents made sure.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals

When the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that was a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking gesture. It had been challenging following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and three more disallowed; now it was impossible.

Suddenly there were footballers all around, racing back and forth of sight and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume this down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. Two weeks later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team had lost four times, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. They had conceded four, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out he was right.

Only once had Barcelona previously secured five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go a significant margin clear at the top of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach said so too. Asked if this was a weight off his shoulders, or existed a psychosis around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” Yet he did admit that this was “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys required the experience of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win versus a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games in the global tournament, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, but they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, the coach said. Yet the new campaign, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row before Atlético came and put 5 past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against the big teams? Now at last they had beaten a major rival as well. And not only that they won, but also the manner they achieved it.

The opposition had players out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too Raphinha, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. And a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front again. Additionally head coach was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and located in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Of all the things directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, maybe the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous than before after the defender departing, the pressure on opponents dropping and coordination off, Levante created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require much of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. They put the ball in the net on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick