Figo the phenomenon as Real roll on
Ronaldo's return grabbed most of the headlines but the man who took the plaudits for Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Monaco was Luis Figo.
Ronaldo's return grabbed most of the headlines but the man who took the plaudits for Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Monaco was Luis Figo.
"Figo sorted everything out ... from the left," commented Spanish sports daily Marca, the country's biggest paper.
The Portuguese captain switched from the right flank to the left at half time, with David Beckham moving out from the centre to the right, and the moves helped make the jigsaw pieces fit together after being 1-0 down at the break.
Figo was the only Real player deemed deserving of three stars by Marca, their highest rating, the paper acknowledging Real's spluttering performance despite the comfortable win.
The player himself refused to take credit for the victory but admitted Madrid were still not firing on all cylinders.
"We were not 100 per cent. Monaco came at us but we are used to this. The important this is that we got an important victory while still not being at our best," Figo said.
"At least this victory puts us back on the right track after losing two games in the last week."
Other papers also heralded Figo's performance.
"Figo gets Madrid off the canvas," commented Spain's biggest mainstream daily El Pais.
Figo's outstanding performance will also add spice to the debate about whether he will be leaving Real at the end of the season, despite having two years left on his contract.
It has been rumoured that Figo, 31, will be the latest victim of the ruthlessness of Real president Florentino Perez, who is widely believed to be wanting to be able to cash in his asset before his value starts to decline.
The themes of Real redemption were not just restricted to Figo's thoughts.
"Medicine for the crisis," begrudingly acknowledged El Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona-based sports daily.
The other man to get the top ratings was Monaco's former Real Madrid player Fernando Morientes.
Morientes was widely cheered by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful on his return to the Real Madrid citadel, appreciative of his efforts during six years in a white jersey, after being deemed surplus to requirements last summer.
"The reaction of the Bernabeu to my goal was wonderful. I am glad they understood the dedication of my goal to the victims of the March 11 (the Madrid bombings)," said Morientes.
"Moro is better than ever," said sports daily AS.
As the equal top-scorer in the Champions League this season, after his 82nd minute header for Monaco's second goal which gives the French team hope of fighting back in the return leg, few would disagree.