Cristiano and Asensio put Real Madrid in the driving seat
Real Madrid won a pulsating Spanish Super Cup first leg 3-1 at the Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi notching FC Barcelona's goal from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid took control of the Spanish Super Cup with a breathless 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou on Sunday, with goals from Gerard Pique in his own net, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio. FC Barcelona had levelled the game with a Lionel Messi penalty, but failed to make the most of a late red card for Ronaldo.
Zinedine Zidane left Ronaldo on the bench and started with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale up front supported by Isco, while Gerard Deulofeu stepped in alongside Messi and Luis Suarez for the hosts. It was the Uruguayan who had the first sight of goal after 10 minutes but his shot was straight at Keylor Navas. Madrid’s first chance came after 36 minutes when Isco surged in off the left flank to feed Bale, who had a fierce drive pushed over the bar.
The game burst into life at the start of the second half. Madrid took the lead when Marcelo’s cross from the left was turned into his own net by Pique. Soon after, Luis Suarez just failed to turn in a low cross from Deulofeu and then Dani Carvajal had a shot blocked on the line by Jordi Alba.
Navas tipped a Luis Suarez header over the bar, and Zidane chose that moment to introduce Cristiano Ronaldo into the fray. Luis Suarez went down for a penalty in the 77th minute which Messi converted but that just lit the touchpaper to a game which was simmering to the boil.
Ronaldo had already had a goal ruled out for offside when he broke away on a counter-attack, cut inside Pique and lashed a shot into the top corner in the 80th minute. Moments later, however, the Madrid number seven picked up a second yellow card and was sent off leaving his side with a man less. But a stunning last-minute strike from Marco Asensio ensured the visitors ended the match with three valuable away goals.
The return leg is at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Real Madrid took control of the Spanish Super Cup with a breathless 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou on Sunday, with goals from Gerard Pique in his own net, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio. FC Barcelona had levelled the game with a Lionel Messi penalty, but failed to make the most of a late red card for Ronaldo.
Zinedine Zidane left Ronaldo on the bench and started with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale up front supported by Isco, while Gerard Deulofeu stepped in alongside Messi and Luis Suarez for the hosts. It was the Uruguayan who had the first sight of goal after 10 minutes but his shot was straight at Keylor Navas. Madrid’s first chance came after 36 minutes when Isco surged in off the left flank to feed Bale, who had a fierce drive pushed over the bar.
The game burst into life at the start of the second half. Madrid took the lead when Marcelo’s cross from the left was turned into his own net by Pique. Soon after, Luis Suarez just failed to turn in a low cross from Deulofeu and then Dani Carvajal had a shot blocked on the line by Jordi Alba.
Navas tipped a Luis Suarez header over the bar, and Zidane chose that moment to introduce Cristiano Ronaldo into the fray. Luis Suarez went down for a penalty in the 77th minute which Messi converted but that just lit the touchpaper to a game which was simmering to the boil.
Ronaldo had already had a goal ruled out for offside when he broke away on a counter-attack, cut inside Pique and lashed a shot into the top corner in the 80th minute. Moments later, however, the Madrid number seven picked up a second yellow card and was sent off leaving his side with a man less. But a stunning last-minute strike from Marco Asensio ensured the visitors ended the match with three valuable away goals.
The return leg is at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
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