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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.

Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his gaze and his shooting ability they didn’t know he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

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As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd clásico that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough following with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals scored and three more disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly there were players all around, racing back and forth of view and piling in, police separating people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him telling another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha hurried to stop his compatriot, the defender there too. “It was when we young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “They rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes following the end, ice cubes flying. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded four, 5, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side previously won five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak concluding with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear in first place in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy reflected this, players dancing together. Likewise, the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to for such matches for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. The coach said so too. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a mental block regarding important matches, a fixation, he shot back: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and our recent history and what it means for the squad; the players needed that feeling of winning a major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won any. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, eastern side and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat is part of last season, Alonso said. Yet the new campaign, his season, began with a winning streak consecutively before city rivals visited and put 5 past them. It was positive beating Oviedo, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival too. And not only that Madrid triumphed, but also the manner they won.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally the winger, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who featured just one time; teenagers, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. 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 suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much discussion focuses of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet their offense struggled well during the match. Among the things that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, more porous than before after the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers decreasing and coordination off, Levante made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club three. Last year 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 scored three goals, Madrid consistently positioned to create chances currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “In the future we will require much of our performance in this game,” Alonso said. The team had shots result in goals on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick