Cristiano’s back and Xabi plays his 200th game for Madrid

 

The first attractive thing to highlight about this match is that Ronaldo is back after three games. As you might imagine he’ll no doubt be mad for goals after being out, so things look promising. The next good sign is that the opposition are desperate. Copenhagen need to win to ensure they go into the Europa League in third place: a draw is only good enough for them if Juve win in Istanbul.
From the fake pitch at Xàtiva Madrid now go to the knackered grass at the Parken Stadium, ruined by a storm last week. To protect it UEFA obliged Copenhagen to train at another venue. Solbakken, the host’s coach, would rather have run all over it, and maybe planted some cabbages. “For us the pitch being in a poor state isn’t a problem”. The good news is that the weather is going to respect the live humans taking part: 6 degrees.
With an exception being made for the pitch Copenhagen are receiving Madrid in style. Hundreds of fans were at the airport to see them, with as much enthusiasm as bad luck – the players were picked up on the runway. The fans who went to the hotel were luckier. Both sets though can all boast about living in one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world, extremely adapted to bicycles and full of green areas (the stadium being an exception).
For the visitors the trip serves to bank some cash (a million for a win) and boost their statistics. Madrid have scored in their last 20 games (losing only four). Cristiano has 27 goals in his last 22 games (56 in total in the competition) and with one more goal he’ll break the record for the group stage (8), held by Van Nistelrooy, Crespo and Inzaghi.
Copenhagen, beaten 4-0 in the Bernabéu, have little to say in the face of the latest storm heading their way. Their hopes rest on the magic of a stadium where Barça, United and Juve have failed to win. Everything else is harsh reality. The team is six points behind the leaders in the league and their consolation is a place in the semi-finals of the Danish cup.
This will be Xabi Alonso’s 200^th game for Real Madrid (he played 209 for Liverpool) and there is still no news about a new contract. The feeling is he has more doubts than desires to negotiate. He feels wanted by the club, but he fancies new professional experiences before returning to Madrid. Nothing wrong with that. That’s what thinkers do, whether they are footballers or mathematicians: they don’t stop thinking.