Well, that was an interesting game, no?  Too many cards and not enough football.  I don’t want to go into technical details, but wow, you could really note the absence of Xabi Alonso.  The team’s just not as imaginative, creative or fresh without him, which is worrying.  We didn’t play good football, but at least we won, ending the 2010 part of the season on a good note.

One. What a sublime goal from Ángel di María to win the game for Madrid.  The celebration following was pretty great as well.

Poor Iker had to celebrate by himself, while Álvaro Arbeloa amused himself by rubbing Granero’s head and pulling on Sergio’s hair.  I wish I had that privilege.

Two. Xabi and his posing were sorely missed.

Three. The only good thing about all the little scuffles and showing of yellow cards was that our players stood up for each other.

When Ángel was about to get into it with Palop, Cristiano stepped forward to defend his teammate and play peacemaker.

He did the same when Özil got carded for wasting time, and Arbeloa and Granero subsequently complained on behalf of Mesut as well.

More sticking up for teammates.  It seemed like one-fourth of the game consisted of players writhing around on the ground, one-fourth of players getting carded, one-fourth of players shoving each other around, and only one-fourth was the players actually playing.

And yay for Iker acting like a captain!

Four. Clos Gómez, the referee for this game, was the big star of the game.  He handed out nine yellows to Madrid, including one to Iker, who said after the game that he was only trying prevent his teammates from approaching the referee and that the referee “did not measure up to the standard required.”  Pedro León was disgusted by Clos Gómez, saying, “he lost control of the game bit by bit and I think one has to speak more with the players and not be so arrogant.”  And Álvaro Arbeloa described “some” referees as wanting to come to the Bernabéu to “make themselves heroes or to show that by expelling someone from Madrid that they’re the best.  I’m not sure, but I have a feeling that they come here to show off.  We want them to be just and nothing more.”

And Mesut left us this gem on his alleged twitter.  Real Madrid 1-0 referee and Sevilla.

Clos Gómez also expelled Silvino de Almeida Louro, the goalkeeping coach, at the half, along with Sevilla’s delegate Cristobal Soria Ruiz.  According to the postgame report, these two had gotten into a tussle at the entrance of the tunnel right after the first half ended (Sevilla assistant coach Gonzalo Hurtado was also involved).  This little scuffle led to Madrid’s delegate, Agustín Herrerín, falling to the ground.  Soria had taunted Madrid by doing the gesture of the manita towards the bench.  Also of note:  Silvino Louro has no place on the bench, because he’s the goalkeeping coach.  However, Madrid inscribed him as a “health assistant” so that he would be able to sit on the bench during games.

The jawing started before the half, and in the end, Pedro León, Aitor Karanka, Antonio Adán and Esteban Granero all helped to restrain Louro.

Five. Cute moments.  The traditional beso between Sergio and Iker prior to the game, and Iker conducting his team.

Pepe continues to show that he’s the canteranos‘ biggest cheerleader, and Sergio once again auditioned for Baywatch.

Six. Not to be left out, Sami Khedira showed off his best Blue Steel and Ferrari looks.

Seven. Cristiano has a great body and skills.  Look at that control!

Eight. Before the game, there were four goals in the Bernabéu.  Apparently, the team had two extra goals brought in and put near the corners for the goalkeepers to warm up in, in order to preserve the field in front of the actual goals.

Nine. I absolutely loved  these moments of Diarra complaining to the fourth official.  Look at the official’s reaction, he’s like, yes, yes I hear you, now shut up.  But Mahamadou still believed that he didn’t get the point.

Ten. Front and back.™

Well, only back here.  And lots of it.

Álvaro Arbeloa.

Karim Benzema.

Cristiano.

Ángel di María.

El Pirata.

El capitán.

Bambi.

Peter Lion.

El Indio de Camas.

Eleven. Before the game, Iker presented his World Cup Golden Glove award to the public.  Of note:  he was applauded by the Bernabéu and his teammates, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

Iker started off the game with a long-sleeved jersey, then changed at the half to emerge for the second half with short sleeves.  Also gone at the half were his tights.

Twelve. Mou used a lot of messengers on Sunday night, and constantly gave directions.

He related instructions to Pepe, who subsequently went to give them to Arbeloa.

And Antonio Adán was seen giving Mou’s instructions to Iker at one point during the game after Carvalho was expelled.  It of course brought to mind Amsterdam.  Will Pacheco be next?

Thirteen. The one and only José Mourinho.

Easily the most entertaining part of the game came after it, when José Mourinho appeared in the press room.  He said some fun things, including:

I wouldn’t have paid one euro to watch this game.  If I were at home, I would have changed the channel to watch a Vietnamese football game.

I love it!  And I also agree completely with what he said next.

He also had in his hand a list of the “13 errors” made by Clos Gómez, which had been prepared for him by the club (by ex-referee Carlos Megía Dávila, who has worked for the club for the past two years).  But instead of reading out the list (“if I read the list out loud, I won’t be on the bench for the next game and I want to be with my team”), Mou complained about the club putting this “bomb” in his hand and expecting him to be the only one to publicly complain about the performance of the referee and defend his team:  “I want everyone to to defend my team, not only me.”  He then revealed that he was going to ask for a meeting with FP to talk about this lack of support and their differences of opinions because “it’s easy to hide behind the coach.”

He also asked for a bit more passion from the public (the Bernabéu started booing their own team from the 25th minute on, after giving them time to prove themselves.  And when Madrid failed, the booing started).

Here’s the list of the “13 sins.”

1.  Minute 9 – Kondo fouls Di María, it should have been a yellow.  Error.

2.  Minute 14 – called an offside on Özil.  It wasn’t.  Error.

3.  Minute 20 – called an offside on Benzema.  It wasn’t.  Error.

4.  Minute 24 – Zokora fouls Khedira, it should have been a yellow.  Error.

5.  Minute 25 – Cristiano fouled, no whistle.  Error.

6.  Minute 34 – Offside of Sevilla that wasn’t called.  Error.

7.  Minute 39 – Özil fouled, no whistle.  Error.

8.  Minute 43 – called an offside on Di María.  It wasn’t.  Error.

9.  Minute 45 – only allowed one minute of extra time, when there had been more time lost.  Error.

10.  Minute 47 – called an offside on Özil.  It wasn’t.  Error.

11.  Minute 64 – second yellow card for Carvalho for colliding heads with Negredo.  Error.

12.  Minute 69 – uncalled penalty for action of Escudé on Granero.  Error.

13.  Minute 78 – yellow card for Özil for wasting time during the substitution.  The time wasting incidents of Sevilla were not punished.  Error.

Cards:  Real Madrid 9, Sevilla 3.

Fourteen. Kaká was watching the game from a palco with his wife and son.