Madrid clinch Super Cup success

Real Madrid became the first-ever club to retain the European Super Cup and Champions League after a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday.

Goals from Casemiro and Isco either side of half-time were enough to bag Madrid their first trophy of the new season, despite Romelu Lukaku pulling one back for United.

Cristiano Ronaldo was only a substitute for Los Blancos against his former club, but Gareth Bale started as a centre forward – in a sign that he was not for sale after Jose Mourinho suggested he would try to sign the Welshman if he did not play against the Red Devils.

Madrid were superior to the Red Devils in every department for the opening 45 minutes and should’ve taken an early lead through Casemiro, whose diving header from Toni Kroos’ corner smacked the crossbar.

Yet despite appearing to be a fraction offside, the midfielder made amends. Latching onto Dani Carvajal’s ball over the top, he slid past David de Gea for 1-0.

Karim Benzema then drove hard and low from just inside the box, but De Gea pushed the striker’s attempt away.

United’s only chance before the break came through Lukaku, who met Paul Pogba’s whipped cross from the left and belatedly beat Sergio Ramos in the air, but his header was straight at Keylor Navas.

Coming back out for the second half, Kroos unleashed a swerving effort from just outside the United D, but De Gea tipped it around the post.

Los Merengues soon doubled their advantage, when Gareth Bale played a one-two with Isco, who took a touch before side-footing past De Gea.

At the other end, Pogba was totally unmarked when Ander Herrera’s deep cross went into the Madrid box, but his header was pushed away by Keylor and Lukaku blazed over the rebound from a couple of yards out.

Moments after Bale blasted the ball onto De Gea’s bar, however, Keylor spilled Nemanja Matic’s shot and Lukaku made no mistake from the rebound.

Sergio Ramos then risked conceding a penalty as he appeared to clip Mkhitaryan through on goal, but the referee disagreed, prompting fury from Jose Mourinho on the touchline.

Madrid could’ve scored a third deep in stoppage time as Lucas Vazquez skinned his marker down the right and cut back for Marco Asensio, but the winger’s first-time effort was turned over by De Gea and Ramos sent a free header wide from the corner.

Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United

Casemiro 24, Isco 52 (RM) Lukaku 62 (MU)

Real Madrid: Keylor; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco (Vazquez 74), Bale (Asensio 74), Benzema (Ronaldo 83)

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Darmian; Pogba, Matic, Herrera (Fellaini 56); Lingard (Rashford 46), Lukaku, Mkhitaryan

Referee: Rocchi (ITA)

Tags European Super Cup Manchester United
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