Real Secure First Trophy Of The Season
13 January, 2020
Spanish Super Cup
Teams: Real Madrid 0-0 Atletico Madrid (Real won 4-1 on penalties)
Date: 12 Januaru 2020
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City
Real Madrid secured their first piece of silverware for the season after defeating cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday evening.
Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane kept the same side that beat Valencia in the semi-finals, with Luka Modric and Isco playing just behind striker Luka Jovic in a diamond shape, as Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema missed out through injury.
On the other hand, Atletico manager Diego Simeone made only one change from their win over Barcelona in the semi-finals, as Jose Gimenez was preferred over Stefan Savic to partner Felipe in the heart of defence.
Real took the initiative to attack but they could not break down the Atletico side that was sitting deep, waiting for chances on the break and the game was reduced to a tactical affair for much of the first stanza, with little chances created and the sides went to the break goalless as a result.
Simeone's troops were coming out of their defensive shell in the early stages of the second stanza and they were nearly punished after Jovic burst forward and had space to unleash a strike that missed just wide.
Zidane needed spark in attack though on the hour-mark as he brought on Rodrygo in place of Isco and the Brazilian youngster almost created the breakthrough goal moments later after picking the run of Jovic and the Serbian delivered a delightful cross that was spurned by Federico Valverde from six-yards out.
The game opened up after that and Atletico came close to breaking the deadlock in the last ten minutes after Angel Correa picked out Alvaro Morata in the box but the latter's goal-bound strike was kept out by Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post.
Thomas Partey nearly snatched the winner for Atletico deep in stoppage time with a clever free-kick that was desperately saved by Courtois at the near post and the sides went to extra-time to determine the winner after the match ended goalless in regulation time.
The opening exchanges of the first stanza were lively but neither side could find the finishing touches and with a fourth substitution permitted in extra-time, Atletico took the opportunity to introduce right-back Santiago Arias in place of striker Joao Felix in a tactical switch towards the end of the first half in extra-time.
There was drama towards the end as Los Blancos were reduced to ten men in the last five minutes after Valverde was sent off for bringing down Morata, who was going clear on goal from a counter-attack.
In the end, the sides could not be seperated even in extra-time and the tie went to penalties, where Los Blancos held their nerve to triumph 4-1 in the shoot-out.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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