Finally, Real Madrid Wins Copa del Rey Cup

After 18 years, Real Madrid wins the Copa del Rey cup again. It has been a long drought for the Madridistas but the win makes everything worthwhile.

When Real Madrid finally won the cup I had mixed emotions…I was happy that they won the cup again after almost 18 years, the last time being that of 1993. At the same time a little sad because my idol Raul was not part of the win. When he said goodbye to Real Madrid which I wrote about in my post Raul says Adios to Real Madrid, he was considered finish and he wanted to show he wasn’t ready to retire yet and so he changed his sportswear from whites to blues but knowing the fact that he is forever etched in Madridismo he is certainly happy for this win.

Typically it is Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo who has been the focus of headlines; it was his goal in the extra that has made the score. But let us not forget that it was goalkeeper and the Los Blancos captain Iker Casillas’ saves and outstanding stops that made sure the Barca’s assault did not score. He should be the one receiving the praise for his exceptional saves in the last 15 minutes that denied Barcelona a goal.

First, Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper flung himself low to his right to block a fierce shot by Lionel Messi.

Casillas then launched himself high to his left to tip away a shot by winger Pedro.

Finally, the man who is widely regarded as the best in the world at his profession threw himself down and to his left to turn away Andres Iniesta's goal-bound shot with a fingertip save.

And Iker did it all in a space of a 15-minute vigorous attack from superb players who more often than not score a goal. The decisive goal of Ronaldo came on a swift counterattack from a ball that was passed from Marcelo to Angel di Maria that was met by Ronaldo who arched backward and then flung himself forward to power the ball into the corner of the net. And Barca’s goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto was powerless to stop that.

And Madridistas all over the world rejoiced with the win. Celebration was held at the Cibeles plaza where the wins are always celebrated, Iker Casillas then wrapped the flag on the Cibeles statue and gave her a kiss amdist the We Are the Champions and chants from the thousands celebrating the cup. Though there is a funny addendum to the history because after waiting for 18 years to get the cup, Sergio Ramos dropped it and the bus taking the team to Cibeles run over it. Good thing thought that the makers always have a duplicate.