🔗 Share this article

“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star once stated, but this time he came up short and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, indeed, they would meet him off the pitch; the message was talk is cheap. And that was only the players: there was more from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness behind in Mataró suggested that the Madrid side benefit from decisions and moan, according to reports. Additionally, he offered a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and his shooting ability they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. And, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, they told him so.

Bellingham scores clásico decisive goal as Real Madrid pull clear of their rivals

As the match conclusion sounded on a wild, intense latest clásico that was a little like old times, the Barcelona winger walked towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Carvajal made the classic jibber-jabber gesture. The match was hard enough following with everything that unfolded in the 105 minutes that went before, a match of numerous attempts, three goals scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was too much.

Suddenly appeared players all around, racing back and forth of view and piling in, security pulling individuals apart. In the middle the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper was accepting the invitation to resume the dispute in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him telling another player as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger was running to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “The scene resembled our youth,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Turning Point

Earlier this year, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We will return stronger.” Real Madrid were defeated in a clásico Copa del Rey showpiece 3-2 after additional minutes, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, ice cubes being thrown. Two weeks afterwards, they suffered another loss. Over four encounters, Madrid had lost on each occasion, league, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, 3 and 4. But there remains tomorrow and it turned out Tchouaméni was right.

Only once had Barcelona ever won 5 clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. This past weekend, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points ahead in first place in La Liga.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. Their post-match joy said so, team members celebrating together. So did the noise, their stadium more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day in recent memory: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. When questioned whether this was a relief, or existed a mental block regarding big games, a fixation, he responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than a win, and where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”

Last season Madrid failed to secure a win in such matches. Fourteen times they were defeated: French side, Italian club, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Sevilla-based, Atlético, Valencia and London club all beat them. There wasn’t one victory against a truly big side. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Alonso yet the trend persisted. Madrid won several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization emerging, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Season Progress

That defeat belongs to last season, Alonso said. But the new campaign, his season, began with a winning streak consecutively until city rivals came and scored 5 against them. The results were positive defeating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Now at last they defeated a major rival as well. Moreover not only that they triumphed, but also the manner they won.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, star striker and defender were all missing. Additionally Raphinha, whose significance might now be fully recognised in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes were five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are nineteen. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match up front again. Even head coach was absent, Hansi Flick banned and located in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, has been on the touchline on three occasions: he suffered defeats in all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of the team’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack well on Sunday. Among comments that were said at the young player on Sunday, maybe the most revealing came from Vinícius mid-match, taunting Yamal by saying: “Your play is backwards passes.” Regarding that backline, more porous compared to past after the defender leaving, the pressure on passers decreasing and the timing lacking, one opponent made six clear chances against them, Rayo 5, Sevilla 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in a high-scoring game; yet, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he got three goals, Madrid always positioned to create chances now.

Key Moments

With this approach, especially. The match served as a beginning as well as an end in itself. “Going forward we will require much of our performance in this game,” Alonso said. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three efforts disallowed due to offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick