Liverpool vs Real Madrid
There he was, the 32-year-old defender, veteran of more than 150 caps for Spain, winner of just about every honour in the game, in among the fans, singing and celebrating with them.
The second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had finished half an hour earlier at the Bernabeu, the Spanish team through to their third successive final after a 4-3 aggregate victory.
The Grada Fans - the supporters' group who occupy the seats behind the South End goal - were still there and when Ramos heard, he and his team-mates left the dressing room to join them.
Ramos jumped over the advertisements behind the goal, grabbed the microphone and led the remaining 2,000 fans to sing "Reyes de Europa, somos los Reyes de Europa!" (We're the kings of Europe!), a chant reserved for memorable Champions League victories.
Ramos even started another Bernabeu favourite, "Cómo no te voy a querer" (How could I not love you).
It was a moment that exemplified the deep connection he has developed with most Real Madrid supporters.
Only a select few Real Madrid legends have managed to build such a remarkable emotional attachment with the fans.
Ramos has reached the levels of forward Raul Gonzalez, who celebrated with a bullfighting routine, and even the much-missed Juanito.
Juanito is a Real Madrid legend. Tragically killed in a car crash at the age of 37 in 1992, fans loved him so much that he's remembered on the seventh minute of every match at the Bernabeu with a song that simply consists of his nickname, "Illa, Illa, Illa, Juanito Maravilla" (Vel, vel vel, Johnny Marvel).
His feisty temperament, his desire to win and love for the club saw the fans take him to their heart.Liverpool’s Champions League 2018 winning manager Real Madrid vs Liverpool Rafa Benitez believes the team Jurgen Klopp is taking to Kiev on Saturday to face Real Madrid in the competition’s final is better than the one he led to victory in 2005.
Benitez masterminded a dramatic success in Istanbul, bringing his side back from the dead at half-time against favourites AC Milan when they trailed by three goals, before winning the trophy in dramatic fashion on penalties.
Liverpool then, as now, were unfancied to see off Chelsea and Juventus on their way to the final, so the underdog theme is not new to the Spaniard, who was in his first season at Anfield when he led the club to the European Cup final.
But he reckons Klopp has a side that has been more assuredly built and is better prepared for victory A blank weekend for the column as Manchester United failed to show up for the FA Cup final. What a wee kend coming up though and we've got all the best betting angles covered in the Champions League and playoff finals.
Running total: -£88.66
The Home Banker
Real Madrid are 6/5 favourites to beat Liverpool in Kiev and land an unprecedented third Champions League title in a row. Los Blancos finished 17 points off the pace in La Liga though and wrapped up their season with a typically underwhelming 2-2 draw at Villarreal last Saturday. Offensively they are still a force to be reckoned with (Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 42 goals in all competitions so far this season) but it's been a different story at the back. Keylor Navas has hardly been Mr Dependable between the sticks while the Spanish giants shipped 44 goals in the league (more than Getafe and Espanyol). Liverpool's front three have been red hot in Europe and it's hard to envisage a scenario where the Reds don't score in Kiev. It's 4/6 that both teams find the net and there are over 2.5 goals at the Olympic Stadium. And given how both teams like to play on the front foot that looks an absolute banker
The second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had finished half an hour earlier at the Bernabeu, the Spanish team through to their third successive final after a 4-3 aggregate victory.
The Grada Fans - the supporters' group who occupy the seats behind the South End goal - were still there and when Ramos heard, he and his team-mates left the dressing room to join them.
Ramos jumped over the advertisements behind the goal, grabbed the microphone and led the remaining 2,000 fans to sing "Reyes de Europa, somos los Reyes de Europa!" (We're the kings of Europe!), a chant reserved for memorable Champions League victories.
Ramos even started another Bernabeu favourite, "Cómo no te voy a querer" (How could I not love you).
It was a moment that exemplified the deep connection he has developed with most Real Madrid supporters.
Only a select few Real Madrid legends have managed to build such a remarkable emotional attachment with the fans.
Ramos has reached the levels of forward Raul Gonzalez, who celebrated with a bullfighting routine, and even the much-missed Juanito.
Juanito is a Real Madrid legend. Tragically killed in a car crash at the age of 37 in 1992, fans loved him so much that he's remembered on the seventh minute of every match at the Bernabeu with a song that simply consists of his nickname, "Illa, Illa, Illa, Juanito Maravilla" (Vel, vel vel, Johnny Marvel).
His feisty temperament, his desire to win and love for the club saw the fans take him to their heart.Liverpool’s Champions League 2018 winning manager Real Madrid vs Liverpool Rafa Benitez believes the team Jurgen Klopp is taking to Kiev on Saturday to face Real Madrid in the competition’s final is better than the one he led to victory in 2005.
Benitez masterminded a dramatic success in Istanbul, bringing his side back from the dead at half-time against favourites AC Milan when they trailed by three goals, before winning the trophy in dramatic fashion on penalties.
Liverpool then, as now, were unfancied to see off Chelsea and Juventus on their way to the final, so the underdog theme is not new to the Spaniard, who was in his first season at Anfield when he led the club to the European Cup final.
But he reckons Klopp has a side that has been more assuredly built and is better prepared for victory A blank weekend for the column as Manchester United failed to show up for the FA Cup final. What a wee kend coming up though and we've got all the best betting angles covered in the Champions League and playoff finals.
Running total: -£88.66
The Home Banker
Real Madrid are 6/5 favourites to beat Liverpool in Kiev and land an unprecedented third Champions League title in a row. Los Blancos finished 17 points off the pace in La Liga though and wrapped up their season with a typically underwhelming 2-2 draw at Villarreal last Saturday. Offensively they are still a force to be reckoned with (Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 42 goals in all competitions so far this season) but it's been a different story at the back. Keylor Navas has hardly been Mr Dependable between the sticks while the Spanish giants shipped 44 goals in the league (more than Getafe and Espanyol). Liverpool's front three have been red hot in Europe and it's hard to envisage a scenario where the Reds don't score in Kiev. It's 4/6 that both teams find the net and there are over 2.5 goals at the Olympic Stadium. And given how both teams like to play on the front foot that looks an absolute banker
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