An ICYMI supplement for the goals and celebrations from this game, with the main post coming up next!  (And I’m sure you can guess what it’s going to be called.)

Well it was a brilliant night in terms of goals, with Madrid putting seven past Málaga!  I was hoping Madrid would do well, but I certainly didn’t expect seven goals.  Part of the merit has to go to our team, but another part of it is because Málaga didn’t really come out and play, since they viewed the game, as Manuel Pellegrini said later on, as a mere “formality,” as their attention was focused on their weekend clash with Osasuna.  Anyway, Madrid dominated the game, and even had time to experiment, as Mou did with the substitutions.

ONE. First up, the goals.  Karim Benzema started the fiesta in the Bernabéu last night, with Ángel di María and Marcelo joining in on the fun before the first half ended.

It was great to see Cristiano let Xabi take some of the free kicks, especially since the first two times that Xabi took charge, Karim Benzema scored (although one of the goals was annulled for him being offside).   Karim Benzema now has five goals in each of the three tournaments.

Then in the second half, Karim scored once more and Cristiano notched a hat trick (his fifth of the season) to regain top position in the race for pichichi, one ahead of Leo Messi.

TWO. The celebrations.

First goal: Two different views of Karim Benzema leaping into the air out of joy.  I’m sure he felt relieved that he was able to prove that starting him over Manu Adebayor was not a mistake.

Second goal: I’m willing to overlook Ángel di María’s tired old goal celebration, because I am in a great mood today, after this result.  How cute is Mesut flattening Marcelo’s hair?

Third goal: the BEST celebration of the night, for the little dance between Marcelo and Cris.  SO ADORABLE.  Mesut probably wanted to join in, but was too shy.  Marcelo said after the game that he made the letter “L” with his hand for “two friends who are like brothers to me.  I had told them that if I scored, I would dedicate it to them.”  Marcelo’s a man of his word!

Fourth goal: Cris was all business-like in this celebration.  Xabi too.

Fifth goal: Karim knew by this point that he passed the exam with a sobresaliente.

Sixth goal: more serious Cris.  Look at that scowl!

Seventh goal: someone in the stands was prepared – do you see that hat thrown at Cristiano several seconds after he notched his hat trick?  More on this later, but Cris injured his left hamstring while scoring the goal, and that’s why he asked to be substituted after the celebration.  You can see how gingerly he’s walking.  The multitude of boot colors is nice too, no?  And that hug between Marcelo and Sergio C. is adorable too.

THREE. A (bit of a worrying) stat: Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 43% of his team’s goals.  I hope the others can step it up in his absence!