Madrid-Uno Weblog

Switched on the TV tonight and saw big celebrations going on following the end of a basketball match.

I’m not a big fan of Basketball. It’s not a game we get much exposure to in the UK so its subtleties are beyond me. But it’s an important game in Spain and the country is the reigning World Champions. No, really. Better than the Yanks even. Who’d a thunk it?

Anyway, cause for celebrations? The ‘historic’ Madrid team MMT Estudiantes had saved themselves from relegation in the final match of the ABC league season, thus securing their proud record of being an ever present since the league’s formation back in 1955. It is one of only three such clubs, together with Real Madrid and Joventut.

MMT fans, known as the ‘Demencia’, are well known for being quite batty. The club was originally formed from a well known school (The Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu) on Serrano, near to Republica Argentina, and the hard-core of support emanate from there. And being young student types they have a lot of energy so do a lot of shouting. Balloons and streamers are used assiduously. They bounce up and down in the stands.

It’s also a ’sympathetically’ popular team - Madrilenos in general have a soft spot for them - particularly as they’re classic underdogs, never winning anything (bar a few minor domestic cups) but being league runners-up four times (most recently 2003/04).

For tonight’s crucial game (I should point out I had no idea about any of this crucialness until I was filled in by a mate) the demented ones had travelled in impressive numbers to Leon to support their team so the arena was about a quarter full of blue-shirted aficionadios willing their heroes on. Well, it worked. And we will see the Estudiantes in the Premier League next season. If you fancy attending a match, probably best to buy ear mufflers.

.

Lots of Zara outlets in Madrid, naturally so, and this one is on Conde de Peñalver, close to ladies shopping favourite calle Goya in the posh barrio of Salamanca.

With the title wrapped up last Sunday, Real Madrid had one last piece of important business to attend to: the return match of ‘El Clasico’.

For Real, the match turned out to be a minor ‘clasico’. For Barca, a ‘pesadilla’ (nightmare).

First, Raul scored early. He got a lucky bounce but swept the ball beautifully into the net.
Second, Robbben glanced in a header.
Third, Higuain steamed through a now shell-shocked defence and drove the ball past Valdez in goal.
Fourth, Van Nistelrooy (who had literally just been on the pitch just 30 seconds replacing Raul) scored a penalty
Fifth - Casillas makes a phenomenal save from a Messi curler, tipping the ball ’round the post - denying the little Argentine what would have at least been the consolation of being the best goal of the night.

And in between, the men in white played tici-tac one touch football, we had a well-timed thunderstorm at half-time (complete with lightening!) and the fans got a chance to chant the name of all the players.

In the 87th minute Messi did manage to split a high-sitting Real Madrid defense, threading through a gem of a ball to Henry who clipped past Casillas - and the visitors did then press for the remaining five minutes of time played. But they knew the moment had gone and it was all a bit half-hearted. Xabi got himself sent off in the last minute in a fit of pique. Either that or he got temporary tourettes syndrome. ARSE! GIRLS! REAL MADRID! FECK! He got laughed at as he trudged off the pitch.

Real supporters don’t do a lot of singing. It’s one of the first things you notice when you attend a match. But a few ditties were belted out during the game tonight and everyone stayed behind for the champions attenuated lap of honour - mainly attenuated ‘cos of the rain. This domestic season has been a bit of a stroll in the park, so it’s now apparent that the early failure in Europe requires analysis from the manager. Close season has officially started so now come the transfer rumours. Let’s see what happens.

Steps of the Estanque in Retiro Park, central Madrid.

As predicted last week, Real Madrid won their 31st title this Sunday after beating Osasuna away.

It wasn’t easy. It poured with rain, the team from Pamplona were obdurate and the Madridistas had to fight their way back into the game after a second-half sending off, when defender Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed. This was followed by a Patxi Punal penalty, after centre-back Gabriel Heinze had clearly handled in the area, sending Real 1-0 down.

With only 4 minutes left in the match Dutch winger Arjen Robben equalised, heading in after Gonzalo Higuain whipped a free kick into the area. Then a couple of minutes later the Argentine turned from provider to scorer, striking the winner with a total lash past ‘keeper Ricardo. A worthy goal to finish the season.

With three matches left to play, Real have an unassailable 10-point lead over Villarreal at the top of the table. It is the first time they have won back-to-back league titles since they won five in a row between 1986 and 1990.

Cliff was denied illegally!

According to TV documentary “1968. I lived through the Spanish May” - aired on La Sexta - the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968 was rigged by the Fascist regime of Francisco Franco to ensure the Spanish entry won.

The Spanish singer Massiel won the competition, with the creatively titled song ‘La, la, la’, by only one point, beating UK legend Cliff Richard, who was singing his (now) classic ‘Congratulations’.

Director Montse Fernandez Vila has claimed that RTE executives toured Europe offering cash and promising to buy television series and contract unknown artists from other Eurovision member states to influence the vote. At that time the winner of the competition was decided by a jury comprised of 10 members from each of the 17 countries participating with each member awarding one point to their favourite song.

”There is evidence that votes were bought to secure a win for Massiel,” said the director. ”The regime was acutely aware of the need to improve their image… Looking back at the parties that were organised and the way Massiel was turned into a national hero - it seems a bit excessive for a song festival but it all served to glorify the regime,” she said.

No need to rig this year’s soon upcoming contest though. After last year’s debacle, when the Spanish thought they had winner and were cruelly denied by colluding newly arrived Eastern European nations who all voted for each other, they’ve gone ironic. For 2008 their entry is called ‘Chikichiki’ - a comedy, samba rap complete with crap-but-easy-to-learn dance.

Even if Chikichiki gets nul points in the competition it’s bound to be a summer hit. So consider yourself warned if you’re holidaying on the playas this season.

This is a certain sign that the country has grown up after its fascist interlude and joined the top table of cynical, self-knowing western democracies. No more rigging pointless competitions, now they just take the piss. Or ‘toma el pelo’ as they say.

Kitteh hears tin being opened.

Picture taken at the Estanque by the lake in Retiro Park, Madrid.

¡Hola! ¿Qué Tal? Shuffling through the sun-dappled back streets of Chamartin after a long, long night’s clubbing, Madrid-Uno turned a corner towards Plaza de Castilla and was suddenly confronted with a herd of migrating wilderbeest blocking his way. Focusing a bit closer upon the teeming hordes it transpired that they were joggers, and they all had numbers stuck to their running shirts. Maratón de Madrid (sponsored by Telefonica) apparently. “Blimey! That certainly puts me to shame,” I thought. Grabbing one of the watter bottles from a drinks station close-by Madrid-Uno took some gulps, pointedly lit a cigarette and considered the stream of day-glo sportswear bouncing past. Some other fellow clubbers who were also blocked on their route came and stood alongside. It was an interesting contrast: sweat drenched hedonist freaks, eyes as big as saucers, dishevelled and giggling, versus sweat drenched fitness freaks, eyes narrowed against the morning sun, in their hi-tech running gear.

Checking the details on the net back at base it seems that this was the 31st running of the Madrid Marathon. The organisers, MAPOMA, said 8,000 participants finished from over 50 countries and this year’s event was designed around a course starting in Paseo de la Castellana, finishing in Retiro Park and passing varous historical monuments on the way, although it seemed unlikely the runners would apreciate the finer artistic points of the places.

A local won it - breaking an African stranglehold that had seen them win the Last nine events.

That’s it then. Although not mathematically certain, Real should be crowned champions either next week or the week after.

After round 34 of the domestic season of the Primera División, which featured Real at home to Athletic Bilbao and Getafe vs Atlético, Real are now 10 points clear with 4 matches to play.

A three-nil win over Athletic, combined with Champions League distracted Barcelona’s loss to Deportivo, saw a very content Santiago Bernabeu stadium last night. With only four matches left it would require Real to implode spectacularly not to win now. So, not as exciting as last year’s championship win, which was only sealed in the final match, but gratifying nonetheless. Celebrations will be held in Plaza Cibeles as usual and much drinking will be expected but without the hysteria that accompanied last year’s celebrations - which is probably just as well.

Atleti’s mini derby with Getafe ended in a 1-1 draw. The striped one’s are still in the all important 4th position, which would guarantee European football next season, but they’re only 2 points ahead of Racing and Atleti are known for being chokers so it’s still all to play for.