In case you missed it – Real Madrid vs. Levante [2010-12-22].
Well, it seems that we Madrid fans weren’t so naughty this year, because we got a wonderful Christmas present in the form of this goleada last night at the Bernabéu. I do feel a bit for Levante though, and the referee did as well, since he stopped the game around the 44:50 minute mark. Anyway, this is the perfect way to head into the holidays, no? And the team played fantastically as well once again in the Copa del Rey, making this tournament the most exciting one to watch this season. It’s definitely going to be a White Christmas.
One. I already talked about the goals in the supplement post, but in case you really missed it, the final score was 8-0, with Benzema and Cristiano both notching hat tricks, and Özil and Pedro León scoring the other two. The goleada started in the sixth minute and continued through to the 89th!
Top performances from almost everyone (you can’t really say anything about Iker, since he didn’t have much to do), and so much generosity! One big reason for that was the return of Xabi Alonso. And Lass says he doesn’t like to play as a fullback? He was fantastic! As were Di María, Cristiano, Benzema and Mesut!
Two. Everyone got really dirty in this game, judging by the kits, although it’s much easier to see the dirt when the kits are as white as those of Madrid. It almost makes you think that the players were just rolling around on the ground, from the dirt patches on their shirts and shorts.
Marcelo even had dust in his hair, and dirtied two shirts, because he had to change one when he got blood on it.
Three. Pregame fun. Agustín Herrerín was back on duty as the field delegate, and he also gave Karim Benzema a high five as the latter jogged by.
Some pregame rituals from Cristiano and Iker – Cris likes to jump once as he runs onto the field, and Iker likes to touch el larguero.
Iker stepped onto the field holding his gloves and his towel. However, he forget the little banner to exchange with Levante, so the utillero gave it to Esteban Granero to hand to Iker. He got it in time and so was not caught shorthanded at the coin toss.
Four. Benzema was subbed out to a standing ovation from the Bernabéu, and even got a hug from Mou, as did Esteban Granero. Karim said after the game that that reaction made him feel very loved, and expressed a desire for 2011: to score a lot of goals. Stay safe over the Christmas vacation Karim!
He also had the nice gesture of giving his jersey away to a fan sitting near the bench. I want to know what he put on instead. He put on a Real Madrid sweatshirt.
Five. It was a fiestón at the Bernabéu last night.
Six. Perfect Iker.
He even helped out Asier del Horno when the latter got injured. But rest assured, Iker did keep one eye on the game.
Seven. Cris tried out a heel flick, and I’m not sure what Xabi is doing there on the right.
Eight. Who was in the stands? José Mercé for one. He sat in the VIP palco right behind FP. I’m surprised he didn’t attend with Sergio.
Also on hand in the players’ palco was Ricky. He decided to leave before the game was over, so he missed the eighth goal. Maybe he wanted to go to the locker room to thank Cristiano for dedicating that goal to him?
Nine. Di María really is thin, isn’t he? When he’s sideways, he’s practically invisible.
Ten. The (return of the) Xabi Alonso pose section.™
And yes, Xabi’s taking corners – and of course looking fantastic while doing it – again!
Everyone tried to copy Xabi, but no one could pull it off like the boss could.
Eleven. The youngest and oldest guys out there had the same problem.
Twelve. Álvaro Morata came in in the 76th minute, and received a warm welcome from the spectators (“it was amazing to hear the Bernabéu chant my name”). He had several shots at the goal in his home debut, and got to take home a very special early Christmas present – the match ball. Here’s Cristiano carrying it off the field.
The entire team signed the ball, with Cristiano writing, “be calm, you’re going to score many goals.” What a great bunch of guys we have. And how adorable is MFC? It’s so cute that his jacket almost matches the game ball!
MFC spoke with “El Larguero” after the game, and they asked him how tall he was (his answer was 1.90 or so). They also inquired as to why his pants were broken, meaning he was wearing ripped jeans, and MFC’s answer was that it was for fashion. They then asked him what his mother thought of that, and he said the same as you guys. We also found out that he was on his way to spend some time with his parents, and then his girlfriend.
Speaking of canteranos, it’s Valdo! Remember him?
Thirteen.
Front and back.™
Karim Benzema.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
I love how the jersey clings to his torso.
Esteban Granero.
Marcelo.
MFC.
Mou & Karanka.
Xabier.
Fourteen. More Marcelo. As mentioned before, he got blood on his shirt and had to change it, giving us a glimpse of his various tattoos. I love that he didn’t stop yelling instructions (with Mou) even while on the sideline.
Fifteen. The Mou corner.
No coal for Benzema this year…
We found out from the postgame press conference that Benzema was subbed out because Mou wanted MFC to enjoy some minutes in the Bernabéu.
Mou also revealed that for the second leg, which will be played in Valencia on Jan. 6, the team will travel to the city on the day of the game, which is unusual. This decision was taken because Mou took into consideration how important Jan. 6 is for Spaniards (it’s Three Kings Day, and people start celebrating the day before) and he wanted to make sure that his players could be at home for part of it (especially those with children). He also stressed that it’s not because they don’t respect the rival. Mou also joked that before the game, the players had asked him if a 4-0 victory would be enough for him to allow them to stay at home on the eve of Three Kings Day. His reply? If you score six, we’ll travel on the day of the game.
Meanwhile, Mou’s counterpart Luis García, Levante’s coach, had a fun quote after the game:
Madrid went by motorcycle and we went by tricycle.
Sixteen. Looking ahead: the players have a week of vacation, and return on Dec. 29 to begin preparing their next encounter, against Getafe.
But we’ll still get to see some of our players over the break, with Iker and Figo’s charity game taking place tonight (from Madrid, Iker and Granero will play, along with former madridistas Míchel, Hierro, Sanchís, Butragueño, Zidane, Cannavaro, Celades, Karembeu, Miguel Torres and Guti Guti GUTI!!!!), and Sergio’s Champions for Africa encounter on Dec. 29 (with Sergio x 2 – Ramos and Canales -, Gago, Diarra and Lass to participate, plus Miguel Torres and Dani Parejo).