La Liga returned to the Santiago Bernabéu and a newly sodded pitch for the first time in 2009. The first match of the new year was a great opportunity for Real Madrid to prove that their win against Valencia was just a sign of things to come. The Whites immediately dominated and Robben scored the game winner on 30’. Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra performed well in their Madridista debuts. Only one point off second place, Real Madrid are still very much in the title chase.