It figures that just when we get some momentum going, it’s time for an international break.  But at least we’re well-positioned going into it, with a newfound sense of optimism, after a week of suffering.

ONE.  What a night it was for Gonzalo Higuaín, who took full advantage of Karim Benzema’s absence to make a strong case for why he should get the start, by scoring a hat trick.  By the way, he had scored against Espanyol in four of the eight previous games in which he had faced this team.

As you can see, his teammates on the field and everyone on the bench were happy for him, knowing all that he had gone through to get to this point.  And I love how Pipita was waiting for Cris to join the celebration, as it was his assist which had led to the goal, but Cris was only interested in celebrating with Kaká.

Pipita seemed to be saying, I’m back!

The second goal of the night really helped to calm me down.  And I love how the goals came off of pinpoint accurate passing!

José Callejón did not celebrate his goal; in fact, he asked for forgiveness from his former fans.  He said after the game, “I knew that if I played and I scored, I would ask for forgiveness.  That’s obligatory, because it was as if I were at home.”

I wonder how he feels about the goal celebrations, since it always seems to involve head and hair caressing, and we all know that José spends a lot of time making sure his hair is standing straight up.

The fourth goal of the night and the third to complete Pipita’s hat trick was the icing on the cake.

TWO.  In the tunnel before the game, Mou tapped out a rhythm that only he could hear, while Joselu and Esteban (looking like the perfect boss-in-training) wished Álvaro good luck.  Sami and Mesut also shared a moment in the tunnel, as did Cris and Kaká.

THREE.  Showing the good ties between these two teams, José Mourinho waited for his counterpart Mauricio Pochettino in the tunnel.  They hugged, and then headed out onto the field arm in arm.

However, Pochettino has still to find the magic formula for beating Madrid, as in the seven games in which he’s faced Madrid as coach of Espanyol, Madrid has won all seven and scored 16 goals.

FOUR.  Even though he doesn’t get to play much, Antonio Adán is a lucky guy.  He gets to hang out with Esteban Granero, gets a field-side seat for Real Madrid games, and gets to spend time with Iker Casillas.  That’s a pretty nice life.

FIVE.  Some random moments: Pipita, as he stood around waiting for the game to start, seemed to have some nervous energy, as if he knew that the night would bring some excitement.  Meanwhile, Sami took advantage of Mesut being down to pull his hair!

This moment made me laugh; it’s like a real life version of Real Madrid bowling or something.  And Cris went down, only to bounce right back up with a double thumbs up.  Sigh…

SIX.  That is some ass that Pipita’s got there.  It’s so pert!

SEVEN.  Iker must have been happy after the game, as he managed to keep a clean sheet, though it wasn’t an easy party.  In addition to making saves and ordering his men around, he also played the role of captain very well, even for the other side.

EIGHT.  What will I need to do to get Sergio to defend me like this?

NINE.  José Callejón made his return to Espanyol and the Cornellà-El Prat, receiving an ovation from the fans when he checked into the game.  He said after the game he felt strange changing in the visitors’ locker room and sitting on the visitors’ bench.  This also happened to be José’s 100th game in the first division (97 with Espanyol, three with Real Madrid).

TEN.  I didn’t like Cris’ hair at all.  The combover doesn’t work for him or for me.

ELEVEN.  The obligatory Sergio momentitos.

TWELVE.  After the game, Álvaro Arbeloa made a beeline for the game ball (we all know how good he is at that) to give to Pipita, who then spent some time celebrating with his teammates, all of whom were happy for him, including Raúl Albiol, Sergio, Marcelo…

… and of course his captain Iker.  Iker also thanked the Madrid fans in attendance, while José thanked everyone.

Iker really got dirty during the game!

It was great to see how the game ended, with seven (!) Spaniards on the field: Iker, Xabi, Albiol, Arbeloa and Sergio, who had started the game, and Callejón and Esteban Granero, who were subbed in.  Xabi and Esteban even played together for a few minutes, despite Mou’s previous comment that “it’s also difficult to play with Xabi and Granero at the same time.”

THIRTEEN.  Mou was also waiting on the sidelines to hug his players as they came off the field.

FOURTEEN.  The Xabi Alonso pose section.™

FIFTEEN.  In the mixed zone, José Callejón told the press that he was happy for the reception he received from his former afición, and he praised the collective play of his team.  He added, “this has been my home, but now I defend another escudo and I have to do that to the death.  I hope that everything goes well from now on.”  José also revealed what Mou had said to him before he came into the game: “Mourinho told me to play as I know how.”  He also expressed his joy for his new platonic love, Gonzalo Higuaín: “we’re all happy for him because he can play and contribute goals.”

Speaking of Higuaín, when he was asked what his teammates had said to him in the locker room, he responded, “the entire team supports me and loves me.  That shows that I’m important here.”  Pipita also said Mourinho had congratulated him, and that “I suffered a lot to return, and everyone knows I had needed a game like this.”  He also thanked Álvaro Arbeloa for that wonderful pass leading to the second goal: “Álvaro put it perfectly for me and I didn’t hesitate.”

SIXTEEN.  The Mou corner.

In his post-game press conference, Mou talked about going from a “negative” week (Levante and Racing) to a “perfect” week: psychologically, we came out of a very difficult situation with three bad games, even though we won one.  Now we’ve achieved three wins with 13 goals and with confidence.  I’m happy for the people who weren’t playing and who played fantastically.  I’m happy for Lass, Albiol, Arbeloa and Higuaín.”  Mou also said “Higuaín is a great player… Higuaín was good, even though all of you had forgotten him.”  He also praised the players for working hard and Cristiano for “two marvelous assists.”

And when asked what he’s learned in the last two weeks, Mou gave a vintage Mourinho response: “I learned that men are men, and I didn’t learn that now.  Anything can happen.  The important thing is that when we tied in Santander, we said that this had to end and that we had to turn the page to move forward.”  Mou also said that Levante is the team to watch out for.

There was a moment in which I’m sure many journalists were rubbing their hands with glee, waiting for things to explode.  A journalist from Catalunya Radio asked Mou a question in catalan, about whether Madrid had been so superior as to win 0-4.  In response, Mourinho politely requested that he ask the question in castellano (“can you ask me in castellano, please”).  Later on, however, when he was asked a question in English from a Sky Sports journalist, he responded in English, so people are trying to say that he’s slighting catalan, but perhaps it’s because he hasn’t spoken catalan in years and doesn’t feel comfortable speaking it.

SEVENTEEN.  Other notes.

The players had a light training session earlier in the day in their hotel.  Xabi almost looks like a king, waving regally to his loyal subjects.

This next week and a half is an international week, so the team, minus its international players, won’t return to training until Wednesday.  Fingers crossed that everyone comes back healthy!

The Real… interview for this week is Kaká; it will air on Thursday at 22h.

And much like the Bernabéu honors Juanito during the seventh minute of every match, Espanyol does the same in the 21st minute for Dani Jarque.  It’s such a moving, emotional minute.

EIGHTEEN.  While Xabi tweeted about Iñigo Martínez’s golazo in the Anoeta (which I missed when it happened because I was worrying about Javi (!!!)), Sergio celebrated the victory and his 200th Liga game, saying that he’s as excited as he was on the first day, and that he has many dreams left to achieve.  He also congratulated Gonzalo for his hat trick, saying “he brought home with him the ball and everyone’s admiration.”

And how cute is it that MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín put this picture as his twitter profile pic?

NINETEEN.  As for Castilla, they lost for the first time in 25 games, or in other words, for the first time since Alberto Toril took over (playoff games excepted).  Castilla lost 2-4 to La Roda, in a game that saw Denis sent off in the 15th minute (he had gotten his first yellow card for protesting) and Toril as well as he wasn’t at all happy with how things were going.

Jesé and Dani Carvajal scored for mini Madrid.  The scare of the game came when MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín felt some discomfort and asked to be substituted.  But since Castilla had already used up all their substitutions (and remember, they were down to 10 already), he received treatment and returned to the game, playing the last few minutes with pain.  Some of the players tweeted their displeasure with the referring of the game.  Castilla’s next game is against Tenerife.

Again, I am reminded that I am in the wrong profession.