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“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” the young star once remarked, but this time he came up short and opponents closed in for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would see him off the pitch; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

On the eve the clásico, the teenager who claims he abandoned nervousness back in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he stepped onto Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana dental work, a spark in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he possessed – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. He knew, as opponents made sure.

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When the match conclusion sounded on an intense, intense latest Madrid-Barca match that felt a little like old times, the Barcelona winger walked in the direction of Madrid’s captain, offering a handshake. Rather than taking it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking gesture. The match was hard enough following with everything that happened in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, a match of 38 shots, three goals recorded and additional efforts ruled out; at that moment it became impossible.

All at once appeared footballers all around, running back and forth of view and converging, police pulling individuals apart. Amidst the melee, Madrid’s goalkeeper took up the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. Vinícius was being held back, him telling another player as well they talk to much. Raphinha was running to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was our young,” Aurélien Tchouaméni said.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, Tchouaméni had written: “Opponents celebrate our losses like our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Real Madrid had just lost a derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown following the end, projectiles flying. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, the team had lost on each occasion, league, Copa del Rey and Super Cup won by Barcelona. They had conceded 4, five, 3 and 4. However there remains the future and as it happened Tchouaméni was right.

Only once have the Catalan side ever won five clásicos in a row, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking run ending with the famous 5-0 against Mourinho’s side, and it wouldn’t happen again. On Sunday, Real Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s perfect record in charge, defeating their arch-rivals 2-1 to go five points clear at the top in La Liga.

What It Means

The Madrid squad required this. Their post-match joy said so, team members dancing in circles. Likewise, the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and intense compared to on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” the English midfielder described it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. Asked whether this was a relief, if there had been a psychosis regarding important matches, an obsession, he responded: “That’s you lot’s thing.” But he did admit that the result represented “more than three points, but where we come from and its importance to us; the players required that feeling of securing a victory in a big game.”

In the previous campaign they failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Italian club, Liverpool, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, eastern side and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso but it continued. Madrid secured five games in the global tournament, signs of a structure emerging, an idea, however they faced PSG.

Current Campaign

That is part of the prior year, the coach said. Yet the next season, his season, began with six wins consecutively before city rivals came and scored five against them. It was all well and good defeating Oviedo, Mallorca and Osasuna however, against elite opponents? Finally they defeated one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that Madrid triumphed, it was the manner they won.

The opposition were missing out: Joan García, Gavi, attacking midfielder, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen were absent. Additionally the winger, whose significance may at least be appreciated in absentia. Others weren’t fully fit, defender and Lamine Yamal included. On the bench they had five players who hadn’t started a league game, two more who featured only once; two 17-year-olds, young talents and a couple who are 19. And defender, Uruguayan star, who ended it up front again. Additionally their manager was absent, Flick banned and located in a commentary box. His assistant, Sorg, has been on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in each one.

Game Breakdown

Much is made of the team’s defensive setup, but their offense struggled well on Sunday. Among the things that were said 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.” As for that backline, more porous compared to past after the defender leaving, the pressure on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante made multiple opportunities against them, Rayo 5, Sevilla five, Catalan club 3. Last year they trapped the French forward in an offside position eight times in a high-scoring game; however, lost amid losses, is the fact in the last meeting he got three goals, Real Madrid consistently likely to create chances now.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. This was a start and also a significant result. “Going forward we’re going to need much of what we did today,” Alonso said. The team had the ball result in goals on five occasions – three ruled out due to offside – missed {a penalty|a spot-kick