My First El Clasico

August 24, 2012 Friday 4:30 am (Philippine Time)

I have stayed late in the morning after shift to watch my first El Clasico. As everyone knows, El Clasico features Real Madrid and Barcelona, the two great football teams of Spain and in Europe.

This one is for the title Spanish Super Cup, the battle between champions of La Liga and Copa del Rey, this year La Liga Champs Real Madrid and Copa del Rey Champs, Barcelona. 1st leg was held in the home of Barcelona, the Camp Nou and 2nd leg will be held in Santiago Bernabeu, home of Madrid.

I am more than looking forward to this, past El Clasico as I have heard and watched was always interesting, full of actions, full of emotions. Going into this game, my Real Madrid was confident, they were also aware of course how great Barcelona is, but they're planning to win it just the same.

First half, it was all Barcelona. This is the first Real Madrid game that I have watched where they have least possession. The Whites as I can remember never really had a good scoring chance. As I have watched Barcelona too, I had noticed how swift their midfielders were. Real still played good defense and managed to end it at 0-0 at halftime.

Come 2nd half and into just the 55th minute, the moment that I've been waiting for. A Cristiano Ronaldo goal! More specifically, a header out of a corner from an Ozil assist. That - was just simply amazing. That's the first real time goal of Ronaldo that I had watched. The feeling was overwhelming. Ronaldo and the rest of the Whites was celebrating only for a short while, then the Home Kick off was taken, and with less than a minute to spare.. GGGOOOAALLLL!!! Goal by Barca and the game is tied at 1-1. Saw players of Madrid complaining that it should have been an offside but referees says it wasn't. Just like that, my elated feeling of that Ronaldo goal vanished. And it vanishes more when Sergio Ramos fouled Iniesta on the box that gives Lionel Messi a Penalty Goal to make it to 2-1, then another goal by Xavi. Just too much. I am so sad. Some people at work were teasing and pissing me off more because of it. Then during around the 85th minute, the goalkeeper of Barca (Valdes) when trying to clear out the ball decided to put it on the floor, Di Maria then challenged and able to take it and Goal! Whites now scored their second goal and made it 3-2. Full time and Barca lead with 3-2 going to the Whites Home next Thursday.

After that, mixed emotions just overwhelmed me. It was a great El Clasico, and just realized how I missed the past ones and how I kind of regret it. But it didn't matter, that game was just amazing. Real Madrid still have the chance to grab the title come Thursday and I hope they will. I had enjoyed and fully appreciated this match, from Real and from Barca. I can't wait for the next few ones.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - best players in the world.

Ronaldo celebrates after the header.

Iker Casillas of Real Madrid

Real Madrid vs Getafe 1-2

August 27, 2012 Monday 3:00 am (Philippine Time)

This was really frustrating. After just watching Barcelona made a comeback against Ossasuna with Messi hitting 2 goals, this defeat of Real Madrid was just so sad for me. The Whites didn't dominate as well with possessions and chances. Neither their defense was great. Higuain once again provided the first goal for the Whites but after that Getafe made it to 1-1 out of header in the second half. To make it worst, they got their winning goal with 75th minute and Madrid cannot equalize. Cristiano Ronaldo had some chances with one from a free kick but was blocked by the Getafe goalkeeper, he had another one as well in the 70th minute which was saved too by the goalkeeper. This was really sad since Madrid had lost 5 points from the past two matches of La Liga. Although it was early to tell, I just hope they will bounce back.