“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” the young star once remarked, but this time he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; they told him talk is cheap. This included just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.
Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and complain, or so it goes. He also provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. Yet that was past and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.
Jude Bellingham nets clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid open a gap of Barcelona
When the final whistle went on an intense, intense latest clásico that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than accepting it, Carvajal did the old talking gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, multiple scores recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became too much.
Suddenly there were footballers all around, racing back and forth of sight and converging, security pulling individuals apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the offer to continue the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, he saying to another player else they are too vocal. Raphinha was running to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger there too. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni commented.
Turning Point
In April, Tchouaméni posted: “Opponents rejoice in our losses as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost the clásico Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown following the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four clásicos, the team were defeated four times, league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and four. However there is always the future and it turned out he proved correct.
Only once have the Catalan side ever secured five derbies in a row, Pep Guardiola’s historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid ended Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, beating their arch-rivals 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place in La Liga.
What It Means
Madrid required the victory. Their post-match joy said so, team members dancing in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy compared to for such matches for years: “amazing,” Jude Bellingham described it. The coach said so too. Asked if the win represented a relief, if existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he did admit that this was “not just a win, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”
In the previous campaign they had not won in such matches. Fourteen times they lost: Lille, Milan, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Sevilla-based, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a truly big side. The previous manager departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. The team won several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of tactical organization developing, a game plan, however they faced PSG.
Season Progress
That belongs to the prior year, Alonso stated. Yet the new campaign, his season, started with six wins consecutively until city rivals came and scored five against them. It was positive defeating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated a major rival too. Moreover not only that they triumphed, but also the manner they achieved it.
The opposition were missing unavailable: Joan García, Gavi, Dani Olmo, star striker and Andreas Christensen were absent. Additionally Raphinha, an important player might now be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and young forward among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who hadn’t started a league game, others who featured just one time; two 17-year-olds, young talents and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was missing, Hansi Flick suspended and stuck in a radio cabin. Marcus Sorg, his assistant, was on the touchline on three occasions: he has lost all of them.
Game Breakdown
Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled effectively during the match. Among comments that were said at the young player on Sunday, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian during the game, mocking the teenager by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding their defense, more porous compared to past after Iñigo Martínez departing, the pressure on opponents decreasing and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, Rayo five, Andalusian side five, Girona three. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by losses, is the fact in their most recent match he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid consistently positioned to get opportunities currently.
Key Moments
With this approach, in particular. This was a beginning as well as a significant result. “In the future we will require much of our performance today,” Alonso commented. They put shots result in goals five times – three efforts ruled out for offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick
