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“As long as I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” the young star once remarked, however this time he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, yeah, they would meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a recollection that on his previous visit he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and this was now. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, they told him so.

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When the final whistle went on an intense, intense latest clásico that was somewhat like past encounters, the Barcelona winger walked towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber motion. It had been hard enough following with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more disallowed; at that moment it became too much.

Suddenly there were footballers everywhere, racing in and out of sight and piling in, police separating people away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was restrained, he saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled when we young,” the midfielder said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni posted: “They rejoice in our losses as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in the clásico Spanish Cup final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team were defeated on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded four, five, 3 and four. But there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever won five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run ending with the famous 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid ended the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin ahead at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration said so, players celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, or existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, he shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than a win, and our recent history and its importance to us; the players needed that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: Lille, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, city rivals, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a top-tier opponent. 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 emerging, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the next season, his season, began with a winning streak in a row until Atlético came and put five against them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten a major rival too. Moreover not only that Madrid triumphed, it was the way they won.

The opposition had players out: backup keeper, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated in absentia. Several players weren’t fully fit, defender and young forward among them. Among substitutes they had five players who not begun a league game, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front again. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick banned and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among comments that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling was from the Brazilian during the game, taunting Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for that backline, leakier compared to past with Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and the timing off, one opponent made multiple opportunities against them, another team five, Andalusian side 5, Girona three. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in an open clásico; however, lost amid the defeats, was that in the last meeting he scored three goals, Madrid always likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we will require much of what we did today,” Alonso commented. They put the ball in the net five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick