Screw you ref! This calls for nudity!

You know that Real Madrid can turn a tie around from any given situation.

You definitely know that Real Madrid can turn a tie around from any given situation if the game is being played at Fortress Bernabeu.

And that is exactly what happened in the weekend’s game against Sevilla. We go not 1-0 but 2-0 down and stayed that way with just 30 minutes left on the clock. The fact that Barca dropped points added the pressure that a win would see us on level with them and ahead on goal difference. What did we do? We scored three goals, the first two coming in 4 minutes and the winner in the second minute of added time. Now, we’re on top of La Liga and beaming with confidence with the all important midweek game to look ahead.

Like all the others who saw the game live, I too am suffering from PTSD. And it is a bitch, mind you. My heart rate went up and down like an Alpine pass and I would’ve lost a few hundred calories during the post-match celebrations especially with all the jumping and dancing. I think it would be safe to say that it was one of my all time favorite Real Madrid matches and the one of the most exciting games ever from a neutral’s perspective. Though I’d any day prefer a nice comfortable win over such a nail biting encounter as a Real Madrid fan, the football fan in me would love to see a few games now and then which is as exciting as this one. Of course either ways Real Madrid should win all of them.

Real Madrid started preparing for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Olympique Lyonnais just hours after the Sevilla game. The starters jogged and did stretching exercises to recover from last night’s strain. Guti, Gago, Diarra, Van der Vaart, Granero, Raul and Metzelder played piggy-in-the-middle and tackled an obstacle course devised by fitness trainer Jose Cabello. Dudek and Real Madrid C keeper Tito (Adan was playing a match with Castilla) trained under the supervision of Xavier Mancisidor. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ramos did recovery exercises in the gym with the injured Benzema and Drenthe. Pepe was watching Castilla play Alcala at Alcala.

Even though the squad list for the Wednesday game won’t be out until tomorrow we have some news already. According to AS, Benzema is yet to recover from his hernia, and will miss Wednesday’s game, as well as the league clash against Real Valladolid at the weekend and hopes to return to action against Sporting Gijon on March 20. Even if he is deemed fit I don’t see him starting for two reasons. One, he is not match fit. And two, Pellegrini wouldn’t spoil the chemistry. No news yet on Ronaldo and Ramos. Both should be fine. Hell, Ronaldo was went partying with Pepe later in the evening. Of course he will be fit.

Today’s Marca has an article on Rafael van der Vaart and his determination that gifted him the moment to savor on Saturday when he scored the winner against Sevilla. The Dutchman was on the brink of exiting Real but he decided to stay in Madrid because he wanted to prove a point to the World and so that he can stay besides his beautiful wife Sylvie who is undergoing treatment for breast tumor in the city. Rafa described the moment as the best in his Real Madrid career and as one of the most important goals that he has ever scored. If he scores a similar one against Lyon he’ll become a Real Madrid legend.