Last night, Real Madrid and Barcelona went head-to-head in arguably one of the most anticipated El Clásico matches in recent times. Despite Real Madrid walking away with all three points, courtesy of goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, the real winner was football.
El Clásico has always been, and will always be, a fixture brimming with tensions, given the extensive rivalry between the two clubs, not to mention the historical significance of the match-up.
The rivalry arguably hit its peak back in 2010, following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid manager. Determined to shatter Barcelona’s domestic dominance, Mourinho’s impact on the rivalry between the two teams was so extensive that it seeped into the Spanish national team, with international teammates divided by their club allegiances.
However, in recent years, many would argue that the rivalry, once famed for its hostility, has lost its edge. Why this is the case is open to interpretation, but what is clear after last night’s game is that El Clásico is well and truly back.
A key protagonist in the reignition of this rivalry has been 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who, despite his youth, has become a key figurehead of the new wave of football. Adored for his expressiveness on the pitch, Yamal is equally as expressive off it, and his most recent comments before the match were exactly what was needed to reignite the El Clásico flame.
In the week leading up to the game, Lamine Yamal attended Kings League, a seven-a-side football tournament established by Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué. Comparing Spanish streamer Ibai Lamos’ team, Porcinos, to Real Madrid, the youngster said “they steal, they complain…” and when asked if he thinks he will score at the Bernabeu, Yamal cooly replied “Don’t you remember last season?”
Further stoking the flames of tension, Yamal followed up his comments with a photo of himself celebrating after a goal at the Bernabeu last season, with Madrid fans angrily gesturing towards him in the background.
Safe to say, Real Madrid were far from amused with the youngster’s comments, as reports emerged that the dressing room was angry with him, but were determined to use the comments as fuel to triumph over their bitter rivals.
Throughout the game, there were numerous infraction points, but it was after the final whistle that tempers really boiled over, as Pedri was sent off following a second yellow card offence. A melee ensued, with Madrid players keen to voice their grievances towards Lamine Yamal. Carvajal told him, “You talk too much. Speak now,” and he wasn’t the only one, as Vinicius Jr also reportedly told him “Talk now!”
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Revelling in their glory, Madrid players also took to Instagram to clap back at the youngster, most notably Jude Bellingham, who captioned his post: “Talk is cheap. HALA MADRID SIEMPRE!!!” – a clear dig at his rival, the post has since garnered almost 5 million likes in under 24 hours.
With bragging rights up for grabs, not to mention the three points, the build-up to the match and the tension between both sides meant fans got to witness an absolute classic.
Trash-talking is a key feature of US sports, particularly the NBA and NFL, as athletes are emboldened to speak openly about rival teams and players. Often leading to highly contested match-ups, as the rivalries become real.
Last night’s match-up is arguably the biggest example of how trash-talking can enhance football, and empowering players to speak freely will only benefit the game. Not only did the game have more than 650 million viewers worldwide, according to Spanish outlet Diario AS, but players themselves enjoyed the pre-match animosity.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, speaking after the game, said: “Look, honestly, I like that Lamine Yamal talks and stuff. I like when there’s a bit of a thing between the players, you know? – It helps for competition between clubs.”
Players have become increasingly emboldened to express themselves on social media, and fans have responded positively to it. Whether it’s Djed Spence adding club teammate Brennan Johnson to his penitentiary, or Amadou Onana sending a cheeky jibe to Spence after Aston Villa’s win against Spurs – “#penitentiarywasopen👀”
While he may be the most high-profile player to vocalise his opinions on his rivals, Lamine Yamal is far from the only player to do so – instead, he represents a broader shift in today’s game.
Not only is it encouraging to see players share their personalities publicly with supporters, but it adds an edge to the game, and by creating these authentic rivalries, fans become increasingly invested. As we continue to shift away from conventional media-trained answers, the new generation of ballers has shown that they’re willing to talk their s***.
Swapping the tabloids for Twitch, not only do players have their own platforms, with considerable audiences, but by taking control of their narratives, they provide an extra layer of entertainment to the game, one that it needs.
Rather than shying away from it or criticising players, like Yamal, who are outspoken, we should be relishing a new era of players talking their s***, whether they back it up or not; it all adds to the overall product and levels up the game.
