Well, this is a hard ICYMI to write, since I really don’t feel like re-watching the game and reliving the experience to find the moments for the post.  But… I’m an optimistic person by nature, so I’ll try and be optimistic in this wrap-up too.  With that said, we lost yesterday, but at least we did so in the only competition we can afford to.  Better this than the Copa del Rey or the Champions, no?  It’s been far too long since we’ve won either of those.

ONE. One of the best things about the game was seeing Pipita back!  And shirtless!  I love how Jerzy was holding the shirt for him to change into.  Gonzalo came in for Esteban Granero early in the second half.

On his back, you could see the scar left by his surgery.  After the game, Gonzalo said he thought he would be more out of shape or feel pain, but he felt very good, and that he was happy: “it was said that I would be out for the rest of the season and I showed that not everything in life is statistical.  I felt very comfortable out there.”  Pipita added, “the key to the recovery was the fight, to fight for what I love most, which is playing football.  Being able to wear this shirt again in this stadium is the most beautiful thing.  I want to thank the entire coaching staff, the medical team, the fans, my teammates, my family and myself.  I’m very happy to feel like a footballer again, although this wasn’t what I had in mind for the return.”

TWO. Real Madrid legend Ronaldo was honored before the game.  First, we got to watch a video of his best moments with the shirt of Real Madrid.  While the two teams were taking the traditional starting XI photos, Madrid delegate Agustín Herrerín opened the box containing the statue of Machimbarrena and Aranguren.  Then the speaker told the Bernabéu: “this stadium is going to honor one of the most important players in the history of this club.  Let’s receive Ronaldo with all the affection of el madridismo!”  Ronaldo stepped onto the field to a thunderous standing ovation and chants of “Ronaldo, Ronaldo.”  He hugged his former teammates Iker Casillas and David Barral, the two captains, and saluted the crowd.

Lass has hair!!!

While Ronaldo was basking in the affection of the crowd, José Mourinho joked around with FP, trying to get him to sit down on the bench.  Then FP headed onto the field to present the commemorative statue to Ronaldo along with JV.  Then, Ronie took the honorary kick off, and hugged Iker once more before walking off the field.  He watched the rest of the game next to FP in the presidential box.

Afterwards, Ronaldo said, “it was a very emotional moment, and returning brought a lot of memories to my head.  I’m proud to have formed part of the history of Real Madrid because it’s the greatest club in the world and the one I scored the most goals with in my career.”  As for his favorite goals with the Madrid shirt, Ronaldo said, “I like to classify the goals according to their importance, so in that sense, I’ll pick the two I scored against Athletic de Bilbao to win the Liga and the one to win the Intercontinental Cup.”  And as for his best accomplice, he chose “Zidane, the player I most enjoyed playing with.  Seeing the things he did and the elegance with which he did them was a luxury.  He’s a great friend and we had fun playing together.”  And we had so much fun watching the two of you, didn’t we?  ¡Gracias Ronie!

THREE. Ronaldo was not the only Madrid idol honored last night.  Yesterday was the 19th anniversary of the death of Juanito, who was killed in a car accident on April 2, 1992, while returning to Mérida after watching a game at the Bernabéu.  Juanito played for Madrid between 1977 and 1987, scoring 153 goals in 401 games, and winning five Ligas, two Copas del Rey and the Pichichi trophy, among other honors.

He’s remembered during each game when the crowd chants “illa illa illa, Juanito maravilla” in the seventh minute (he wore the number 7), but last night, there were extra banners and posters to honor him.  There is also what’s called the “el espíritu de Juanito,” which is invoked whenever Madrid needs to make a big comeback.  Will this be needed this season?

FOUR. Of note: Sporting had just as many canteranos in their starting line-up as we did (Alberto Rivera, Alberto Lora, David Barral vs. Iker, Esteban Granero, Álvaro Arbeloa), with our last two only there due to injury/suspension.  I don’t like that at all.  And by the way, I barely recognized Alberto Rivera!  Remember when he had that long, frizzy, blondish hair?

FIVE. Iker reacted to the goal with his patented “I am so pissed off right now” expression.  It’s also known as his “you call this a defense?” expression.

SIX. Here starts the healing, courtesy of the two Sergios.  Both Sergios manage to make us focus on a part of their bodies rather than the game and the result.

SEVEN. Meanwhile, Esteban Granero pulled a “Sergio Ramos.”  Close-up here.

EIGHT. It’s a bit painful to see Iker from the front now, due to that hairline, as some of you have pointed out, but I’m happy to report that everything still looks spectacular from the back.

NINE. As you can see, Sergio spent the whole afternoon either fiddling with his hair, or sticking his tongue out.

During the game:

After the game:

No difference, right?

TEN. I loved this moment when Iker helped out David Barral.

ELEVEN. And somehow, Iker ended up with a green jersey after the game, even though no one was wearing one out there.  It came from Sporting’s backup ‘keeper Raúl Domínguez, who came onto the field as the game ended with that shirt, and got Iker to remove his and exchange them.

TWELVE. Why oh why did the cameras not pan down (left) or to the front (right) in these exact moments?

THIRTEEN. I also loved that Iker joined in the attack during the last play of the game.  Once again, spectacular from the back.

FOURTEEN. The Xabi Alonso pose section.™

Well our Xabi was absent from the game, but his teammates have obviously been influenced by him, as they took over his favorite pose.

FIFTEEN. I loved that Mou, for the first time, waited out on the field to high five all his players as they came off the field.  He also saluted Sporting’s players, as well as the referee team.  The first thing that Manolo Preciado said at his press conference was that Mou had come into his team’s locker room to congratulate them for the win and to shake everyone’s hands.  Meanwhile, Miguel de las Cuevas, the man who ruined Mou and Madrid’s night, said, “Mourinho came to congratulate all my teammates, one by one, including Preciado.  This shows that he’s not only a great professional, but also a man with very sporting behavior.”  Take that critics!

SIXTEEN. Speaking of Mou…the Mou corner.

After the game, Mou attributed the defeat to bad luck, the mentality and the defensive play of the rival: “defending, defending, defending… they took one shot at the goal and scored, that’s what Sporting did.  That’s football.  We had five occasions and we didn’t score.  That’s football and tomorrow is Sunday.”

Up to this game, Madrid was the only team that had not lost at home this season, and that stood for all three competitions: 22 games, 22 wins.  José Mourinho had said in Friday’s press conference that, “if we lose tomorrow, we’ll lose the Liga.”  When asked about this last night, Mou said, “as long as the math says no, it’s no.  But, looking at the situation objectively and pragmatically, if the distance with Barça increases from five to eight points, then it’s practically impossible” (he said this before the Barcelona result was out).

I also like that he’s back in the summer suit!  He looks much younger and with more energy when he’s not wearing black.

SEVENTEEN. Looking ahead: the team started focusing on the important match against Tottenham, and trained this morning behind closed doors.

Ángel di María will miss the next game in San Mamés, as he picked up his fifth yellow card, and will have to serve a one-game suspension.

And, to put rest to those rumors, Shakira’s music (concretely, the song “Loca”) was played in the stadium before the game.  She hasn’t been banned from the Bernabéu for her relationship with Gerard Piqué.

EIGHTEEN. To end, more “pomada pá’ tó’ los dolores.”  The picture on the left should work for most of you, and the one on the right is for me.

NINETEEN. Just a note – this was not a good night for me to storm onto the field.  First, I might have knocked Mou over, and I don’t want a cross by my name.  Second, Xabi was missing.  Third, Cris was missing (and you know he’d be impressive).  Fourth, Javi (!!!) was missing.  And fifth, I should wait for summer weather, as that most likely will mean no base layers and therefore just one shirt to rip off!  (Since I have a lot to rip off, this becomes important.)  As a bonus for all my loyal fans, I’ll even try and fluff up Iker’s hair to cover the bald spot before I take a picture!