Another classic comeback

If you are not a Real Madrid fan already, then you should become one. That is if you want to feel the full range of emotions that accompany the sport that we have come to know as ‘The Beautiful Game’.

I have never known a team to entertain as much as this one does. Since becoming a Madridista back in October 2006, I have enjoyed some of the most exciting football games I have ever seen. Last night’s game adds to the long list.

Nobody does league comebacks like Real Madrid.

We all knew it was going to be a fiery affair, we all knew it would be stimulating. It always is when these two sides meet. And a generous helping of goals is always guaranteed!  Then thrown into the mix was the fact that Almeria had held Barca to a draw earlier that evening, meaning the Whites had the perfect opportunity to take top spot from their Catalan rivals for the first time since November. The pressure was on.

As Sevilla were the first side to beat Real Madrid in the league this campaign, a lot of Madridistas were worried that they would also be the team that brought an end to Madrid’s unbeaten season-long home record, just as they had done to Mallorca last fortnight. So a Xabi Alonso own goal in the first half appeared to be a bad omen. The final twenty minutes of the first half saw Real Madrid launch attack after attack on Andres Palop’s goal, but they just could not capitalise on their numerous chances. When the half-time whistle went, many sensed that it wasn’t Madrid’s night.

Then in the second half things went from bad to worse, as a seemingly harmless Dragotinovic free-kick somehow found its way past Casillas in the 51st minute.

It was already a cold and rainy night in the capital. A goal like this one would have made most fans very grumpy. And that same majority would have known in their heart of hearts that coming back from a two goal deficit against a side like Sevilla was nigh on impossible. So many chances had gone awry- this game was certainly set to be a write-off.

Yes, most sane people would believe this. But not a true Madridista. Because when it comes to these type of league encounters, Madrid never say die. Having to mount a comeback is something they relish doing. We know this because we have seen it time after time.

For the last four years, I have not missed a game that this side has played and I have seen my fair share of comebacks. Under Fabio Capello, against the likes of Espanyol to throw the title race wide open and then of course Mallorca on the final day of the 2006/2007 campaign to win their unprecedented 30th league title. Against Osasuna, under Bernd Schuster to win their 31st, and under Juande Ramos in a glorious game against Getafe towards the end of last season.

And now Pellegrini adds his name to the list of managers who have coached the comeback kings. The role of head honcho may have changed hands many times in the last few years, but it seems that the fighting spirit is instilled within the side.

So when Cristiano Ronaldo scored on the hour mark to make it 1-2, the Bernabeu practically bounced!

Pellegrini then decided to pull out out his secret weapons on the night. Enter Rafael Van Der Vaart and Guti-a man who’s no stranger to this fixture. His perfect passes in yet another 3-2 result in the 2006/2007 season, were among the highlights of the campaign.

And let’s not forget his stunning assist to Zidane the season before.

Coming off the bench, Real Madrid’s players have been sub-lime this season (sorry for the gorgonzola, I couldn’t resist). They have scored 12 in total, the highest amount of goals scored by substitutes in la liga. That said, they have the highest record of goals scored by defenders too, with a total of 9.

Sergio Ramos made sure he strengthened that tally by scoring the cliched and obligatory goal against his former club. The number four continued to display the fine form we have seen him in this season by netting yet another header. 2-2. His celebration was more talked about than his goal though. Let me enlighten you all. It was split into three parts. The “V” sign he made with his hands was a tribute to the prisoners he had met in Valdemoro prison earlier that week. The nipple rub was a little joke with an old friend and the head tap as he made his way back to the centre circle was a dig at the follically challenged Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido, who apparently lied about Ramos’s transfer to Madrid in 2005.

The Santiago Bernabeu stadium was thrown into an absolute state of euphoria, but the fans were then put through some agonising moments with the chances that followed from Real Madrid. Guti hit the crossbar, Higuain hit the post, then skimmed the post and still the ball managed to go anywhere but the back of the net. But the whole stadium sensed it would come. Even after the clock  hit 90 minutes, we all knew it would come. And come it did……through Rafael Van der Vaart.

Palop parried an Higuain header into the path of the Dutchman who only had to tap the ball in to see it cross the line.

What followed was pure elation as the number 23 celebrated with abandon.

Van der Vaart is a player who has proved to be an important component in every game he has participated in this season, but never more so than last night. For a man who was a dead cert to be leaving the club last Summer, it’s been amazing to see the Dutchman become a firm favourite with the fans in the last six months.

This was the footballer who vowed to fight for his place once it was revealed he would be staying. This is a footballer who remained silent and kept his dignity during the dark days of  uncertainty as to what role he could play in the squad. And all the while, this was the man, husband and father who was experiencing what were no doubt the hardest days of his life so far, as his beautiful wife Sylvie bravely underwent preventative chemotherapy after discovering she had breast cancer in its early stages.

His spirit and quiet determination not only impressed the coach, but the fans too. And while on the pitch, he made the most of every minute he was given, back at home, Sylvie’s chemotherapy was a success.

So there was so much more in that 92nd minute match winning celebration than meets the eye. And the fans were delighted to see Rafa get it.

It was such an incredible moment, I puffed out and practically burst into tears. Though granted, crying at football is not an uncommon occurence with me!

Even the suspended Arbeloa and reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek came off the bench to celebrate, while Higuain- who could have been excused for feeling that the Gods were against him on the night-could not have looked happier for his Dutch teammate.

3-2 it ended. Epic. A game that will not be forgotten, a game I had the privilege of watching from pitchside.

Titbits from a terrific night:

In the post-match press conference

“I say this with clarity. I have never seen a Real Madrid side like this one. They are electric.” Manuel Jiminez, Sevilla coach

In the VIP mixed zone after the game

Rafael Van Der Vaart: Unsurprisingly delighted. Check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eDSCmwLRGA for my interview with him.

Funny pointers:

• Making my way back inside the stadium from our spot pitchside, one of the fans held out his hand for me to high five. I gave him my palm, only for him to grab it and (with the help of his friend) try to drag me up in the stands to celebrate with them!

• Pepe is looking great. I saw him after the game and he was smiling so much, you would think that he had scored the winner! He said he’s doing very well.

• Marcelo laughed about his new hairstyle: “New look!” he offered in English!

• Be sure to catch Neil Jones’s excellent take on the match: http://neiljones.footballunited.com/

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