UEFA Super Cup

On the 15th of August, Real Madrid faced their city rivals Atletico for the UEFA Super Cup. The venue was the A Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia.

The weather was rather cold at 12 C (53 F). The attendance was 12,424 people out of 15,000 capacity.

Real Starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Navas
• Defenders: Carvajal-Ramos-Varane-Marcelo
• Midfield: Kroos-Isco-Casemiro
• Forwards: Bale-Benzema-Asensio

After the departure of Ronaldo head coach Lopetegui saw Asensio as the right replacement. World Cup runner-up Modric was not included as recent speculation has him sold to Inter Milan, so Isco was placed in his position in the centre.

Atletico Starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak
• Defenders: Juanfran-Savic-Godin-Hernandez
• Midfield: Lemar-Rodri-Niguez-Koke
• Forwards: Griezmann-Costa

No surprises from Simeone. The same squad who won the Europa League are now taking on the Champions League holders.

The match started great for Atletico. It seemed as if the Real defence had not heard the first whistle when Diego Costa was given a great ball on the right and after a fast clash with Ramos entered the penalty box. The keeper was not able to do anything against a powerful shot from a few metres and few seconds before the first minute mark the score was 0-1 for Atletico.

In the next 20 minutes Real and Atletico seemed even. Costa was ferociously marked by Ramos and the two clashed a couple of times in the air one of which called for the medical staff. The Los Blancos were trying to pressure Atleti, but despite their best efforts the ball did not go past Oblac.

In the 24th minute Marcelo did a great reid down the left flank and after a pass to Asensio who made a tricky one touch which rebounded of Oblak's hand and went a couple of meters to Benzema who was left against open goal.

The equalizer came the twenty 27th minute when Gareth Bale sprinted down the right flank. With a great cross, he planted the ball on Benzema's head, who easily scored from a few meters, 1-1.

The next 18 minutes saw Real Madrid being more active, but despite giving their all the half ended at 1-1.

In the 63rd minute after a corner kick the ball came into contact with Juanfran’s hand. The referee had to give the penalty. Team captain Ramos was behind the ball and scored without hesitating. Real made a comeback, 2-1.

Sixteen minutes later Atletico rebounded. After indecisive play in the back Real were not able to clear the ball which came in possession to Juanfran. He who had given Real the penalty charged in the box, passed to Correa and after a magic touch Diego Costa was left one-on-one against the keeper. The Brazil born striker did the easy thing and scored his second goal of the night, 2-2.

In the next ten minutes Atletico were the more active team as Real were pushed in their own half. The 2018 Champions League winners made everything possible to withstand a Red and White dominated last minutes and the match went to extra time.

In the beginning of added time the role of the two clubs reversed as the Kings seemed to pressure Atletico while their opponents relied on counter attacks. In one those attacks Varane was outrun by Costa who dribbled along the line of the penalty box. Having lost the ball he did not stop to fight and after a short clash with a defender the ball made its way to Thomas Partey on the left wing who passed to Saul Neguez and the Spaniard produced a great shot from around 20 meters, 2-3 Atletico.

Two minutes after that the game literally came to an end as an attack on the left by the man of the match Costa passed to Vitolo, he found Koke and the midfielder scored, 2-4.

In the 110th minute Vitolo dribbled against Real defence as if he was facing amateur players, which finally signalled that the Whites had serious issues, but his pass to Costa was intercepted.

The game ended with Atletico lifting their third Super Cup trophy after 2010 and 2012. The Mattress Makers gave a strong sign that they dream big and will surely be among the most probable clubs to win this year’s Champions League and perhaps even stop the domineering hegemony of FC Barcelona in Spain.