Rage Against Lamine: Los Blancos Celebrate Clásico Win Following Provocative Comments

“Whenever I emerge victorious they can’t say a word,” the young star once remarked, however this time he didn’t win and opponents were coming for him. They said he was overly vocal; came the response that, yeah, they were going to meet him outside; they told him words mean little. And that was just the players: further remarks from commentators in media platforms, men who always have opinions.

Just before the clásico, the teenager who says he left fear behind in Mataró implied that Real Madrid benefit from decisions and moan, or so it goes. He also provided a recollection that the last time he had been Madrid’s home ground – a kid with blaugrana dental work, 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 this was now. Moreover, an adult now, exactly a year on, his side fell short. It was clear, they told him so.

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As the final whistle sounded on a wild, intense 262nd Madrid-Barca match that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal approached towards Dani Carvajal, offering a handshake. Instead of accepting it, Madrid’s captain made the old talking motion. It had been hard enough keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that preceded it, an encounter of 38 shots, three goals scored and additional efforts disallowed; now it was too much.

Suddenly there were players everywhere, running in and out of view and piling in, police pulling people apart. Amidst the melee, Thibaut Courtois took up the invitation to resume the dispute down the tunnel. The Brazilian forward was restrained, him saying to another player else they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to stop his countryman, the defender also present. “It was our young,” the midfielder commented.

Shift in Momentum

Earlier this year, the French star had written: “They rejoice in our defeats as if our winning days are over. We’ll be back.” Madrid were defeated in a derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 in extra time, emotional scenes greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. Two weeks later, they were beaten again. In four clásicos, Madrid had lost on each occasion, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup won by Barcelona. Their defense allowed four, 5, three and four. But there remains tomorrow and as it happened Tchouaméni proved correct.

Only once have the Catalan side previously won five clásicos consecutively, Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking streak concluding with that 5-0 versus Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Madrid brought to a close Hansi Flick’s unbeaten start in charge, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points ahead at the top of the table.

Significance

Madrid had needed the victory. The celebration said so, players dancing together. So did the noise, the Bernabéu louder and intense compared to on a clásico day for years: “amazing,” the English midfielder called it. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this. When questioned if this was a weight off his shoulders, or there had been a mental block around important matches, an obsession, Xabi Alonso shot back: “That is the media’s narrative.” Yet he acknowledged that this was “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 major fixture.”

In the previous campaign Madrid failed to secure a win any. On fourteen occasions they were defeated: Lille, Milan, English team, Athletic, city rivals, Betis, city foes, Valencia and Arsenal each defeated them. There wasn’t one victory versus a top-tier opponent. The previous manager went and succeeded by Xabi Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories in the global tournament, signs of tactical organization emerging, an idea, but then came Paris Saint Germain.

Current Campaign

That defeat is part of last season, the coach stated. Yet the new campaign, his season, began with six wins consecutively before city rivals came and put five against them. It was all well and good beating newly promoted, island team and Pamplona side however, against elite opponents? Finally they had beaten one of them too. And it wasn’t just that they triumphed, it was the manner they achieved it.

Barcelona were missing out: backup keeper, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. So too the winger, an important player may at least be fully recognised in absentia. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal among them. Among substitutes were several individuals who not begun a league game, others who had started just one time; teenagers, young talents and two who are 19. Plus a centre-back, Uruguayan star, who finished the match up front once more. Even their manager was absent, Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was in the dugout on three occasions: he has lost all of them.

Tactical Analysis

Much is made of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, but they did not attack effectively during the match. Among comments that were said to Lamine Yamal that day, perhaps the most revealing came from Vinícius during the game, mocking the teenager by saying: “You’re all backwards passes.” As for that backline, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents dropping and the timing off, one opponent made six clear chances versus Barcelona, another team 5, Andalusian side 5, Catalan club 3. Last year they caught the French forward in an offside position on multiple occasions in an open clásico; however, overshadowed by losses, was that in their most recent match he scored three goals, Madrid always likely to create chances currently.

Decisive Actions

Playing like this, especially. The match served as a start and also an end in itself. “Going forward we’re going to need a lot of our performance in this game,” the manager commented. The team had the ball in the net five times – three disallowed for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick