Schalke 04 Atleti

Finally something to cheer about here in Madrid. Last night Atletico de Madrid won through to the Champions League proper after destroying Schalke 04 by, err.. 4-0 – a most pleasing symmetry.

This second-leg match (following a 0-0 draw in Germany) was marked by a raucous full-house and the attendance of his holy fatness, Mr ‘hand-of-God’ Maradona. Escorted by some blonde tart, the drug abusing cheat watched events unfold from the directors’ box (called ‘el palco’ in Spanish). He witnessed a supreme performance from Atleti and an even better one by fellow countryman Aguero who pulled out a whole box of football tricks for the night, thoroughly confused the visiting club form Gelsenkirchen.

Such has been the lack of success for Atletico in recent years, qualification for ‘el Champions’ was seen as a decent excuse for some supporters to go dancing in the fountains at the Plaza de Neptuno – an act usually reserved for cup wins or league titles. Bless.

It’s 12 years since Atleti last qualified for the Champions League while over on the other side of town Real Madrid have qualified every year bar one. How dearly the striped-ones would like to put one over on the white-ones. Maybe this will be the year.

La Liga – All Over Bar The Shouting (and Drinking)

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.

Real Madrid Closing In On Title

Atleti got stuffed 3-0 away from home versus Villareal on Saturday night. Unfortunately for Mexican coach Javier Aguirre he was booked to appear on TeleMadrid for a full hour’s grilling on the following afternoon’s sports show. Cunningly, the producers decided to show all three goals in slow-motion replay and ask Aguirre to comment on each one, describing, if he could, the fallibilities of his defensive line-up. He coped well, in the sense that he didn’t shirk blame and explained how he saw things with frankness. But he was sweating a bit under the gills by the end of it.

Sunday night was cold, squally and with intermittent showers, but it proved to be a balmy night in the micro-climate of the Estadio Bernabeu as Real turned on the old-school form and won at a canter, beating Sevilla 3-1. In doing so they opened up a six point gap on nearest contenders Villareal and a seven point one on faltering Barcelona, with just 8 matches left to play.

Heinze’s first league goal for Real put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute only for Kanoute to level the scores on 37 minutes. However, captain Raul scored his 290th goal for Real to make him the club’s joint second all-time top-scorer along with Carlos Alonso Santillana, as he chases Alfredo di Stefano’s mark of 307. Higuain added a third as Real ended a sequence of two successive league defeats. “It was a complete game from my team from defence right through to the attack,” Bernd Schuster, Real coach, said.

As the final whistle blew the contentment of the Real supporters was evinced in a growling but generous roll of cheers that circled the stadium and rumbled your feet through the concrete. Six up, eight to go. You could taste the satisfaction. People filed out unusually quietly and without haste. Happy to smile at each other and let people pass. As I walked past the supporters clubs buses, stationed out on Ramon y Cajal, I was greeted with a thumbs up by young lad with one of those jester-like funny hats, in the purple and white of Real. I guess he thought I was a Madrileno too. That’s pretty cool.

Atlético vs Real – The Madrid Derby

1999. That was the last time Atléti won at home versus city rivals Real Madrid. That’s eight years of hurt. Eight, long, barren years in front of their home supporters.

Forward to season 2007/08 and tonight’s heavily anticipated encounter and supporters of the striped ones have been acting odd all weekend. I say ‘odd’ because instead of the usual swaggering braggadocio, they’ve been more subdued. It’s been quiet out there. Almost…. too quiet. Almost…. confident quiet. Hmmmm.

What may have been happening here is that this is the best Atlético de Madrid football team for several years. And so tonight they actually rated their chances. Indeed, even Madrid-Uno and his Real supporting mates had a sneaking suspicion that maybe the run was going to be broken. Our relentless all-week taunting of deluded Atleti supporting colleagues in the office had an edge of desperation about it. We weren’t sure we meant it. Which is very un-Real like behaviour.

So. Everyone is crowded into Cherry Bar on calle General Pardiñas. We’ve just managed to squeeze barside and get a round in and BOOM! Raul scores after just 32 seconds after Robinho had skipped past his defender down the left and centred from the touchline. WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!

What follows is forty minutes of pretty intense Atletico pressure as the striped ones attack to try to get back on level terms. Thiago Motta puts a header against the bar, Raul Garcia forces an outstanding save and Kun Aguero sees a sizzling shot from the edge of the area skim the bar. Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas is el muro as the commentators put it. Absolutely outstanding. And then, totally against the run of play, with just a couple of minutes left in the first half, Real grab a second when van Nistelrooy nabs his 12th goal of the season. WOOOF! Bar goes mental. Drinks are spilt. Someone cuffs me round the back of the head as they leap into the air.

The second half is not spectacular as Real do what is necessary. Atleti rarely look as dangerous as they had in the first and Real almost get a third. Final whistle. Bim Boom Bam Thankyou Mam. 3 points and the record stays intact. As I write am still ‘tired and emotional’. ¡Hala Madrid!