Real Madrid Start The Spanish Season In Style

It was “only” the Super Cup, but it’s impossible not to think of this as a demoralizing, crushing blow for Valencia, and as a warning served to the rest of La Liga from Real Madrid. Yes, they’ve won the last two titles, but this was an absolutely epic comeback; one for the Spanish ages.

Already down 3-2 on aggregate going in, they went down 1-0 on a David Silva goal before having newboy Rafael van der Vaart sent off for a tackle he timed with a sundial. So going into the half they were down two goals on aggregate and one man on the pitch. Everything was going Valencia’s way. If you’d bet on real Madrid at this point you were completely foolish. A foolish genius, but foolish nonetheless.

After the half they pulled one back via Ruud after the break, they were sent down to nine men with 41 minutes left to play when RvN got his second yellow. 9 v 11, at this point the best they could really hope for was to keep it competitive. But then Sergio “Arm of God” Ramos snuck one past the ref and into the back of the net to give Real the lead in the game and on aggregate through away goals. And Ruben de la Red, currently enjoying his meteoric rise to superstar status, hammered one past Timo Hildebrand from way outside range. And just three minutes later, Gonzalo Higuain made it four after some sloppy work by Valencia in their own half. Fernando Morientes got one back, but at that point it was moot. Three goals in the final thirteen had the fat lady belting Los Che’s requiem from the rafters. Just an absolutely stunning comeback down two men for Madrid. 4-2 for the game, 6-5 on aggregate, but

But that’s not even the best part: Robinho didn’t get off the bench. Pfft, who needs him?

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Category: Spain La Liga