“As long as I win they are unable to say anything,” the young star previously remarked, however on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; came the response that, indeed, they were going to meet him outside; they told him words mean little. This included just the players: there was more from commentators in their pulpits, individuals who never lose.
Just before the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he left fear back in Mataró implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and complain, according to reports. He also provided a reminder that on his previous visit he stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a glint in his eye and a right foot was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. Yet that was past and this was now. Moreover, 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 Barcelona
When the final whistle went on an intense, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like old times, Lamine Yamal walked towards Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber gesture. It had been hard enough keeping up with everything that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, an encounter of numerous attempts, three goals recorded and three more ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.
Suddenly there were players all around, racing back and forth of sight and piling in, police pulling individuals away from each other. In the middle the scuffle, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the offer to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him telling someone as well they are too vocal. Barcelona’s winger hurried to intervene with his compatriot, Antonio Rüdiger also present. “The scene resembled our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.
Earlier this year, the French star had written: “They rejoice in our losses like our winning days are over. We will return stronger.” Madrid had just lost the clásico Spanish Cup showpiece 3-2 in extra time, a collective breakdown greeting the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight later, they were beaten again. In four encounters, the team were defeated four times, La Liga, cup and Spanish Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, three and four. But there is always tomorrow and it turned out he proved correct.
Only once have the Catalan side previously secured five derbies consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak ending with that 5-0 against José Mourinho’s side, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close the coach’s unbeaten start as manager, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to go a significant margin clear at the top in La Liga.
Madrid had needed this. The celebration said so, team members celebrating in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu louder and more edgy compared to on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso said so too. Asked whether the win represented a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he acknowledged that the result represented “not just a win, and where we come from and its importance for the squad; the players required the experience of securing a victory in a big game.”
Last season they failed to secure a win in such matches. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Bilbao, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. They did not achieve one victory against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team won five games at the Club World Cup, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, but they faced PSG.
That is part of the prior year, the coach stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, started with six wins consecutively until Atlético visited and scored 5 past them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, Mallorca and Pamplona side but what about elite opponents? Now at last they had beaten one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid won, it was the way they won.
The opposition had players out: backup keeper, young midfielder, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and defender were all missing. So too the winger, an important player might now be fully recognised by his absence. Several players were not at 100%, defender and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun in La Liga, others who had started only once; teenagers, young talents and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Additionally their manager was missing, Flick suspended and located in a radio cabin. His assistant, his assistant, was on the touchline three times: he has lost each one.
Much discussion focuses of the team’s defensive setup, yet their offense struggled well on Sunday. Of all comments directed to Lamine Yamal on Sunday, perhaps the most revealing came from the Brazilian mid-match, taunting Yamal by telling him: “Your play is backwards passes.” As for their defense, more porous compared to past with Iñigo Martínez leaving, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and coordination lacking, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, Rayo five, Sevilla five, Girona 3. Previously they caught the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, overshadowed by the defeats, is the fact in the last meeting he got a hat-trick, Madrid consistently likely to get opportunities now.
Playing like this, in particular. This was a beginning and also an end in itself. “In the future we’re going to need a lot of what we did in this game,” the manager said. The team had the ball in the net five times – three disallowed due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick
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