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“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” Lamine Yamal once remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him outside; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: further remarks from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.

Just before this epic clash, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. Additionally, he provided a reminder that the last time he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he had – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.

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As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt somewhat like past encounters, Lamine Yamal approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain did the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of numerous attempts, multiple scores recorded and additional efforts ruled out; now it was impossible.

All at once appeared players everywhere, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, security separating people away from each other. Amidst the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was our young,” the midfielder commented.

Turning Point

In April, the French star posted: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Madrid were defeated in the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes following the final whistle, ice cubes flying. A fortnight afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed four, five, three and 4. However there is always the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola record-breaking streak concluding with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points ahead in first place of the table.

What It Means

Madrid had needed this. Their post-match joy said so, players celebrating together. So did the crowd’s roar, their stadium more vocal and more edgy than for such matches in recent memory: “amazing,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked if the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a psychosis around important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he acknowledged that this was “more than a win, but where we come from and what it means for the squad; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign Madrid had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal all beat them. They did not achieve one victory against a truly big side. The previous manager departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure developing, a game plan, however then came PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to the prior year, the coach stated. But the new campaign, his season, started with six wins in a row until city rivals came and put 5 past them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them too. Moreover it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the manner they won.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun a league game, others who featured only once; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front again. Even head coach was missing, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet they did not attack well during the match. Among comments directed to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius during the game, taunting Yamal by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, leakier compared to past after the defender departing, the pressure on passers dropping and the timing off, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team 5, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Last year they caught Kylian Mbappé offside eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Real Madrid always positioned to create chances currently.

Key Moments

Playing like this, in particular. The match served as a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we will require a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager commented. The team had shots in the net five times – three efforts ruled out due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick