In case you missed it – Real Madrid vs. Racing de Santander [2010-10-23].
It was a pure fiesta at the Bernabéu last night, with six goals scored for the second time this season (the final score was also 6-1). What a turnaround from the three goals in the first three Liga games!
One. Which was your favorite goal celebration? Cristiano featured in most of them, but then again he did score four of Madrid’s six goals. However, he gets a few negative points (the only ones of the night) for being unoriginal in his goal celebrations. Did they give you a sense of déjà vu? I mean, once again, he messed up Mesut’s hair, did the hand motion thingy towards the players’ palco, and danced a little with Marcelo. But when you score four goals, anything can be forgiven. I just wish Cris had whipped off his shirt for at least one of the celebrations.
This was the first time Cristiano had ever scored four goals in a game, although he has two hat tricks under his belt, one with Manchester United back in 2008, and last season against Mallorca.
After the game, Cris thanked his teammates, saying that without them, “I wouldn’t have been able to score. You have to congratulate the team. I’m very happy because I never scored four times before, but what’s important is the team.. My teammates are great, and some are better than me.” He was also realistic, saying, “in any case, as the míster says, we can’t be euphoric. There’s a lot of Liga left although we’re currently in first place.”
He got to keep the game ball, which all his teammates signed.
Two. The Bernabéu crowd is known to show its displeasure at certain times, but when they get behind their team, they really get into it. There were many ovations throughout the night, from the goals to the substitutions.
Three. And if the goals weren’t enough, Cristiano wore the tight jersey once again. Everyone’s a winner.
Four. Cute moments: here, we have Álvaro telling the ref he’s going to unfollow him on twitter for giving him the yellow card, and make Xabi and Pipa follow suit. No more tweets for you! And right before Sergio C. was sent into the game, he had to put on his shirt. Why is it so dark back there? Madrid, invest in some lights please! I need to see in greater detail!
Five. Meanwhile, Gonzalo and Mesut were busy trying draw our attention to their lips. Both succeeded.
Six. Cristiano and Iker were polar opposites as far as the field was concerned. After Cris managed to detach a clump of grass from the field during a play, he went back to put it in place. Iker, on the other hand, wasn’t so kind, taking out all his frustration on the field after conceding a goal. Pobrecito…
By the way, with Marcelo subbed out in the 69th minute, Iker and Cris became the only players on the team to have played every minute in the Liga so far.
Seven. People who sit in the presidential palco really don’t know how lucky they are. I mean, you’re at a Madrid game, sitting next to FP, it’s 10 minutes in and the team has already scored a goal. And all you can do is focus your attention on your mobile phone?
The four Chilean miners who had visited the Bernabéu earlier this week, were also in the palco. They also got to meet the players at the Mirasierra Suites earlier in the day.
Eight. The players from both teams, and every team in the Liga, and 15 other European leagues, came out wearing shirts supporting the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization. Iker’s clashed terrifically with his shorts, which means that he probably thought it looked good.
This gesture reminded me of Raúl, who is a goodwill ambassador of the FAO. I’m really glad he’s doing so well in the Bundesliga!
And Jerzy Dudek provided this campaign testimonial for Poland: “If we, the football players, are able to support such a noble initiative in any way, then our participation constitutes our primary obligation. I also believe in your support and engagement. The European Football society is united together towards one mutual goal – combating hunger and imposing a social pressure upon those in power – this is the goal that we aim to achieve.”
Nine. The Xabi Alonso pose section.™ Madrid only had eight corners on the night, and most of them not on his side, so Xabi didn’t get to pose too much during the game.
Ten. The Mou section. Even though Madrid had already scored four goals, Mou still saw something that bothered him and whipped out his notebook to jot that thing (or things) down. Later on, everyone wanted to know what it was.
Iker had said earlier that Mou is like a father. Well then, Ángel di María must be his favorite son. They hugged after Madrid’s third goal, and when Ángel came out – unhappily – Mou asked the crowd to applaud him.
Mou then told Di María that he was proud of his work, the same thing he said to everyone after the game.
Poor Mesut, who also had a stellar game, just got a few observations.
And of course, there were the Mouisms in the postgame press conference, in reference to the upcoming Copa del Rey ida.
If there’s a repeat of last year [i.e. the Alcorconazo], I will eliminate those players who played from my list and they’ll be dead to me.
We also found out that Özil, Carvalho and Xabi will be rested against Murcia. Benzema and Cris will start the game.
Mou gave Madrid a “10” for their performance this game. He also said that after the press conference, he was going to go home and watch Murcia since “I’m not on vacation.”
Eleven. The game, in tweets.
– Xabi: “after a good dinner and three points, I love listening to “Milenio 3″ (a radio program on Cadena Ser) with the wonderful Iker Jiménez, since I don’t sleep at night following games.”
– Gonzalo: “hello followers. I just arrived at home, and I’m very happy with today’s victory. I hope you all enjoyed it like we did. A kiss.”
– Álvaro: [his finger got stuck to the exclamation mark key.]
By the way, Fernando Verdasco is back in Spain. Will we finally get to see some tweeted pictures of a dinner or twitter trash talk about that doubles match?
Twelve. Looking ahead: Madrid trained today in a closed session ahead of Tuesday’s game against Murcia, which will be special for two of our players.
The first is Pedro León, because he’s from Murcia and played for Murcia. He said that his family and friends will come, and that he’s happy to play against his old team.
The second is Raúl Albiol, as his brother Miguel plays as a midfielder for the team. Youngest brother Brian also plays for one of Murcia’s youth teams.