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“Whenever I win they can’t say anything,” the young star previously remarked, but on this occasion he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; 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 media platforms, men who never lose.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. Additionally, he offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a spark in his gaze and a right foot was unexpected he possessed – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

Jude Bellingham nets derby decisive goal as the Madrid club pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion went on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like old times, the Barcelona winger approached in the direction of Madrid’s captain, hand out. Instead of taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough keeping up with all the action that happened in the 105 minutes that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared footballers everywhere, running in and out of sight and converging, security separating individuals away from each other. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the offer to continue the dispute in the dressing room area. Vinícius was being held back, he saying to another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha was running to stop his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “It was when we youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “Opponents rejoice in our defeats as if we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. In four clásicos, Madrid were defeated four times, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup going to their rivals. Their defense allowed 4, five, three and 4. However there is always the future and it turned out he was right.

On just one occasion had Barcelona ever won five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s historic run concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points clear at the top in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid required the victory. The celebration reflected this, team members celebrating together. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if existed a mental block around important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “not just a win, and where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed the experience of winning a big game.”

In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti went and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories in the global tournament, signs of a structure developing, a game plan, but then came PSG.

Current Campaign

That is part of the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the next season, under his guidance season, started with six wins in a row before Atlético came and scored 5 past them. The results were all well and good beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, but also the way they won.

The opposition had players out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, an important player may at least be appreciated by his absence. Others were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started just one time; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and two who are nineteen. And a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who ended it in attack once more. Even head coach was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a radio cabin. His assistant, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively on Sunday. Of all comments directed at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling came from Vinícius mid-match, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all retreating balls.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past with the defender leaving, defensive intensity on passers dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Catalan club 3. Previously they caught the French forward offside on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored three goals, Real 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. “In the future we’re going to need much of our performance in this game,” Alonso said. The team had the ball result in goals five times – three ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick