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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say anything,” the young star once remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores derby decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

When the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger approached towards Madrid’s captain, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old talking gesture. The match was hard enough following with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; now it was impossible.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of sight and piling in, security pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, he saying to another player as well they talk to much. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “The scene resembled our young,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

In April, Tchouaméni had written: “They celebrate our defeats as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles being thrown. A fortnight later, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. However there remains the future and as it happened he was right.

On just one occasion have the Catalan side ever secured five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 against Mourinho’s team, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

Significance

The Madrid squad required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players celebrating together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense than on a clásico day in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. The coach echoed this. When questioned whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block around important matches, an obsession, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just a win, but where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a major fixture.”

Last season Madrid had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: French side, Milan, English team, Bilbao, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with a winning streak consecutively until Atlético visited and scored 5 against them. The results were all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival too. And not only that they triumphed, but also the manner they won.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated by his absence. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun in La Liga, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Even their manager was missing, Flick suspended and stuck in a commentary box. His assistant, his assistant, has been in the dugout three times: he has lost each one.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Of all comments that were said at the young player that day, maybe the most revealing was from Vinícius mid-match, taunting the teenager by telling him: “You’re all backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination lacking, Levante created six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo 5, Sevilla five, Catalan club three. Previously they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; yet, lost amid the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he scored three goals, Madrid always positioned to get opportunities now.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. This was a start as well as a significant result. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” Alonso commented. The team had the ball in the net on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick