“Whenever I win they can’t say anything,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and opponents closed in for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, indeed, they were going to see him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.
Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side rob and moan, according to reports. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his gaze and a right foot they didn’t know he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, an adult now, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so.
Jude Bellingham nets clásico winner as Real Madrid open a gap of their rivals
When the match conclusion went on an intense, intense latest clásico that was somewhat like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the classic jibber-jabber gesture. The match was challenging following with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.
All at once there were footballers all around, racing in and out of sight and converging, police pulling individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling someone else they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his countryman, the defender there too. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.
Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles flying. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. Over four clásicos, Madrid had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by their rivals. Their defense allowed four, 5, 3 and four. But there remains the future and as it happened he was right.
Only once had Barcelona ever secured five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak ending with that 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start as manager, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move five points clear in first place in La Liga.
The Madrid squad had needed the victory. The celebration said so, team members dancing in circles. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense than for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. Asked if the win represented a relief, if there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, and where we come from and what it means for the squad; the players required the experience of winning a big game.”
Last season they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: French side, Milan, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and London club all beat them. They did not achieve a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team secured five games at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure emerging, a game plan, but they faced Paris Saint Germain.
That defeat is part of last season, the coach said. But the new campaign, under his guidance season, began with six wins consecutively before city rivals visited and scored five past them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they triumphed, but also the manner they won.
Barcelona had players unavailable: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance might now be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench were several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front again. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.
Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among the things that were said to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding their defense, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent created multiple opportunities versus Barcelona, another team five, Sevilla 5, Girona three. Last year they trapped Kylian Mbappé in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; yet, lost amid losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities currently.
With this approach, especially. This was a start as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” Alonso commented. They put shots in the net on five occasions – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick
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