in case you missed it – the champions edition

In case you missed it – Real Madrid vs. Ajax [2010-09-15].

And we’re off to a good start in the Champions League! In the first game, we scored zero goals.  The second game, one goal.  And the third, two goals.  So can we expect to see three goals this weekend?  And keep Iker’s sheet at zero, of course.  It was also good to once again hear cheers from the Bernabéu faithful during (most of) this game.

One. Rafa Nadal was honored before the game started – 15 minutes before to be precise, because of UEFA regulations – and watched the game from the presidential palco next to FP himself.  The club had wanted to let him do the kick-off but UEFA gave that idea a thumbs down.  Rafa got an ovation of three minutes from the crowd, and visited the locker room after the game, where he hung out with Iker.  ¡Campeón! I hope Iker and Rafa revive the malaria match so we can see more of Rafa with Real Madrid!

Two. The many faces of frustration of Cristiano Ronaldo.  And there were many.  (The dramatic eye roll is my favorite).  And each time he ended up on the field, whether kneeling, sitting or lying down, I wanted to yell at him to get up, because who knows how far that fungal infection has spread and if it’s harmful to people?

Three. St. Patrick’s Day came six months late (or early) as Iker showed up in an all-green outfit, from shoulders to toes.  I like the color on him; I just wish it wasn’t so matchy-matchy.  Things didn’t get better after the game, when Iker and his purse showed up to talk to the press (video here).  He didn’t have much work in this game, with his first real save (below, right) coming around the 77th minute.

Four. Mou must have been displeased with how Madrid was playing in the first half, because he couldn’t wait to get to the locker room – play was still going on when he entered the tunnel.  I wonder what the halftime talk was like?

Five. Mesut Özil once again got a standing Ö.  He was pretty good, wasn’t he?

Six. We didn’t have Sergio Ramos, but we did have Sergio Canales.  Sergio C. said after the game that he didn’t exchange his shirt with anyone because he wanted to keep it as a souvenir of his first ever Champions League game.

Seven. Besos all around!  And even from an opponent while the ball is in play!  A reverse angle view of the first one here.

Eight. The many sides of Mou.  The cameras once again chose to focus on the gum chewing.  As did the photographers – more chewing gum here.  And methinks that Lass thinks his coach might be a little crazy.  In the post-game press conference, Mou was asked about Ajax coach Martin Jol’s statement that it was a game of kids vs. men.  His response?  “It was kids vs. kids, because we have a team of children, if you don’t count Carvalho and Iker.  And Xabi, because he’s the father.”  Love that!

Nine. This is how I imagine Álvaro Arbeloa would have tweeted during these three moments in the game.

Left: I’m at the Fondo Sur of the Santiago Bernabéu (Avda. de Concha Espina 1, Madrid).  http://4sq.com/5ty67

Middle: ¡Higuaín es un crack!  ¡Enhorabuena máquina!

Right: End of the game, I’m looking for a musketeer to hug.  Where is @XabiAlonso?  All for one and one for all.

Ten. A couple of things that I’m loving: how Ricardo Carvalho just suddenly jumps into the scene, our team, and the blue shirts, both on the coaching staff and on the players.

Eleven. Does Pipita also need to spend some extra time in the gym?  Maybe Cris can help him out with an abs routine.

Twelve. Kaká looks like he’s at a country club watching polo rather than at the best stadium in the world watching football.  And apparently, he and Iker have been sharing “fashion” tips.

Thirteen. Loving the hair of Xabi and Marcelo.  And Cris’ fauxhawk doesn’t look so bad when it’s gelled down, and once he starts sweating, it loses all the height.

Meanwhile, both Ángel di María and Pepe denied responsibility for Cristiano’s fauxhawk.  Ángel claims innocence and Pepe can’t believe anyone would suspect him.

Fourteen. As for the field, it will be completely changed after the Espanyol game.  It’ll cost between €300,000 and €400,000, and be purchased from Germany, the Netherlands or France.

Fifteen. This summarizes the game nicely.  And we were only 2/3 of the way though the game at this point.