The Real Madrid–Valencia fixture had a clear triumphant player, Arjen Robben, who took part in his finest match with the Whites. Robben merged his best football skill along with an unlimited drive. The always demanding crowd of the Bernabéu acclaimed the Dutchman as one of the team’s idols.

When everyone thought the match would end as dimly as it started, Robben fired up the game. His performance was absolutely outstanding. It was a combination of exhaustion, passion and satisfaction.

He drove Valencia’s defenders to despair down the right wing, from which he continuously looked to penetrate the opponent’s box. Robben shot on goal up to five times and steered the squad to victory.

In an evening where the shadow of defeat covered the stadium, Arjen was in charge of clearing the horizon with his clever performance. Robben was yesterday the player that everyone expected him to be when he first joined the club, but couldn’t due to severe injuries. Today we face the player who may well be, if not already, one of the best football players in Europe.