A Look Inside Real Madrid’s First Champions League Game: what it felt like to be inside

"Will Los Merengues Add Some UEFA Silver to Their Showcase?"

by Nada Eldib

As the Bernabeu floodlights slowly got brighter the enthusiasm heightened as the players walked out of the tunnel in their all-white uniforms to face their first challenge in the UEFA Champions League. Rafael Nadal is comfortably seated next to the Real Madrid Club President Florentino Perez after receiving an honorary award from the club for his career achievement of winning yet another Grand Slam title. The referee blows the whistle and its game time. New coach Jose Mourinho starts off his 11-man quad with 4 of his new signings—adding a little speed to the whites´ attack. As tension mounts in the stadium Gonzalo “Pippita” Higuain gets the fans on their feet as his shoot hits the crossbar to miss the target.

In his, possibly, Hugo Boss suit, Mou is pacing around in his outlined platform, not looking pleased at his teams´ performance 20 minutes into the first half.

Goalkeeper and Real Madrid and Spanish national team captain Iker Casillas does not see any action till the 25^th minute, a ball that he elegantly pushes away from goal. Ajax Amsterdam’s defense is holding in the whites yet the white’s attacking spirit does not falter. Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot goes inches wide of the goal causing a shudder in the blue and white stands. New signings Mesut Ozil and Di Maria show off their skills as they put together an artistic one-two pass with an ankle pass followed by a slightly wide shot on goal (as many critics say, the Real Madrid players see their target but lack that finishing touch).

The Xavi corner kick, which results in a deflected header from Higuain onto an Ajax player and into the goal in the 31^st minute, leaves the players walking calmly off the pitch at halftime. Yet surely it feels otherwise in the changing rooms for both sides, as they both come out stronger in the second half.

The Ultrasur crowd (those who are considered to be the Real Madrid hooligans) start to chant louder and louder to distract the Dutch team from gaining grounds and formation.

The chip from Di Maria, the attempted shot from Marcelo, which is blocked and later followed by Higuain, completes the goals for the night in the 73^rd minute of the game.

Two goals, not the best for such a team, earns the Madridistas the 3 points against the Dutch Ajax to keep them on the top of their Champions´ League group. Higuain almost walks out with his first hatrick (3 goals in one game) of the season missing on the final passes from Cristiano Ronaldo. Los Merengues (as they have come to be known for their all out white uniforms) have finally started to take form. The team is not completely cohesive, but that is due to the many changes that have happened over the summer and the final acquisitions as the transfer window has come to a close.

They have successfully completed their first round of games this season undefeated (suffering a few ties however), putting pressure on their La Liga rivals as well as European competitors. With the new coach on the bench and the old president in the “palco,” fans are hoping for the 10^th Champions League Cup to shine next to all the rest of the team’s remarkable silverware collection. Do you think that’s possible?