ATLETICO DE MADRID defeated 4 - 2 REAL MADRID in tonight's UEFA SUPERCUP FINAL played in Tallin (Estonia). First winning blow to Atletico over Real Madrid as the new 2018-2019 season kicked off, with La Liga also starting this upcoming weekend.
Entertaining match that saw Real Madrid dominate the game up to around the 79th min to have later At Madrid comeback to equalize & force the extra-time. From here onwards Real Madrid was practically overrun as tiredness & defensive mistakes gave the upper hand to Atletico who never stopped fighting for every ball. Deserved & well earned just victory & title for Atletico de Madrid.
Atletico forward DIEGO COSTA was fundamental for his team tonight scoring his teams first goal in the 51st second of the game. He later was the key scoring the equalizer that forced the game into extra-time to give At Madrid the margin needed to finish off a tired Real Madrid.
Real Madrid played well & dominated the ball all the first half. They managed to score two goals via a BENZEMA header & a Sergio RAMOS penalty. Real Madrid could have shut the match & been on course to win had Marco Asensio managed to put into the net a fabulous opportunity created by a Gareth Bale pass to his feet.
The 2ºhalf saw Atletico de Madrid lift themselves as Real Madrid clearly began to fizz out. The tiredness affected the concentration of the players & mistakes began appearing in their passing. Two changes - Casemiro & Isco - seemed to have lessened the effectiveness of Real Madrid, & while Modric came on he too was not finely tuned enough to lift his team.
In extra-time the freshness & greater determination of Atletico de Madrid was enough to "kill off" Real Madrid whose defensive mistakes allowed SAUL & later KOKE to score goals to shut the match & secure the UEFA SuperCup.
Goals scored:
0 - 1 Diego Costa 1min
1 - 1 Benzema 27min
2 - 1 Sergio Ramos (penalty) 63min
2 - 2 Diego Costa 79min
2- 3 Saul 98min
2 - 4 Koke 104min
Question now is will this defeat by Real Madrid motivate the Club to make a last signing effort to reinforce the squad with a "big signing". A pure goalscorer ( Striker ) would be very handy to counter-balance the loss of Ronaldo who guaranteed between 40 - 50 goals per season. It will be interesting to see the reaction by Real Madrid in coming days.
As for Atletico de Madrid, an excellent start to the new season which will boost their confidence. The Club has invested heavily with big signings & expectations are high. The new players will slowly find their groove in coming weeks while the backbone of the team looks solid as ever along with their trademark fighting spirit & grit. Positive beginning.
Real Madrid defeated Sevilla FC 3 - 2 after extra-time to win the UEFA SuperCup Final. First major European Trophy the new 2016-2017 season that signals the beginning of competitions that matches up the winner of the Champions League against the winner of the UEFA Cup.
The starting line-ups were:
Real Madrid CF
Casilla; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kovacic, Casemiro, Isco; Lucas Vázquez, Asensio & Alvaro Morata.
Sevilla FC
Sergio Rico, Mariano, Pareja, Carriço, Kolo; N'Zonzi, Iborra, Kiyotake; Vitolo, Fran Vazquez & Vietto.
Goals:
1 - 0 Marco Asensio 21 m
1 - 1 Fran Vazquez 41 m
1 - 2 Yevhen Konoplyanka (penalty) 72 m
2 - 2 Sergio Ramos 93 m
3 - 2 Dani Carvajal 118 m
A match that went from ordinary to exciting as extra-time again played a role as protagonist. Sevilla FC had the match virtually won with a minute left, but once again Sergio Ramos equalized in the last moment to keep Real Madrid alive with a header.
The extra-time was stiff for Sevilla as they lost Kolo to a red card & the tiredness began to creep into their game. The Real Madrid substitutes Benzema, Modric & James began to show their fresh legs & created opportunities that Sevilla goalie Rico had to continually save.
But a magnificent run down the flank & into the goal area by Dani Carvajal turned into a goal & the winner that sealed the title for Real Madrid.
Third UEFA SuperCup for Real Madrid which is a good start while the wait to recover Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Kross & Pepe ... for the start of La Liga.
The 2015 - 2016 European Football season officially kicks off tonight at Tbilisi (Georgia) with the UEFA European SuperCup Final between Spanish Football Clubs FC Barcelona (Champions League winner) & Sevilla FC (Europa League winner).
Both teams have important players out - or under a cloud - coming into this match. For Barça Neymar was left home when diagnosed with a virus that will keep him out 2 weeks. His place will almost likely be taken by Pedro, player speculated to be heading over to Manchester United.
Sevilla FC has defensive problems after the "defensive back-bone" suffer food poising. Defender Rami seems to be the only one of those exposed that may recover in time. Coach Emery has to fit the jigsaw for tonight's game.
FC Barcelona beforehand is the favourite as they look to notch up another title, however Sevilla FC will be "pumped" & could pull off the victory. The pre-match speculated lie-ups for FC Barcelona & Sevilla FC are below on a graph.
Bear in mind they a speculated line-ups & the definitely starting 11 will not be official until around 45 mins before kick-off.
Good luck to both Clubs & may the better team win. Spanish Football has already won before kick-off.
First mayor European Football title for the new 2014 - 2015 season, the UEFA SUPER CUP, goes to Real Madrid CF after defeating fellow country Club Sevilla FC 2 - 0 in tonights Final played in the city of Cardiff (Wales, UK).
Real Madrid started the match with all its big guns including newly incorporated signings like Toni Kroos & James Rodriguez as seen in the below team photo:
Sevilla FC pulled out its "newly" constructed squad with new incorporation Dennis Suarez the upcoming Spanish Football young star brought over from FC Barcelona as seen in the below team photo. Sevilla FC left back Alberto Moreno finally was not lined up as he was signed & transferred to Liverpool FC for 18M€ a peculiar situation for the player who obviously was "reserved" as to not risk injury.
Game well won by Real Madrid which dominated relatively most of the game. Sevilla was sticky & solid the first 60 mins & managed to create goal opportunities, a couple that needed solid Real Madrid defensive solutions & interventions from Goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Sevilla FC youngster Dennis Suarez was doing very well conducting things & was a menace but as the match went on he suffered - & same team-mates - the physical efforts of the occasion. A name to watch & note: Dennis Suarez.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the mayor protagonist & scored the two goals - 30th & 49th min - & also showed that he seems free from his niggling injuries that hampered him the end of last season & during the recent World Cup.
Other players to mention are Carvajal who was solid along with Pepe & Sergio Ramos. Fabio Coentrao surprised with a very good performance along with Benzema who played well but still needs more fitness work.
Excellent performance from Toni Kroos who looked as if he has been playing at Real Madrid for years. His signing is a great success for the Club & will get even better. James Rodriguez played relatively well with 85% accuracy in his passing, & a near goal that Sevilla FC goalie Beto saved magnificently. However the Colombian needs to get to know his team-mates better & this will come with time.
All eyes on Iker Casillas tonight & he solved very well his "situations" with firm interventions. Must be said that he was not called to work as much as his counterpart Beto for Sevilla.
For Gareth Bale it was a special night & game playing at his native home city. Excellent game with his pass to CR7 resulting in the first goal for Real Madrid. The Welshman is in great physical form & was quick & participative all game. Had his chances to score but the Sevilla defence solved the moments or Sevilla goalie Beto intervened.
Lastly, Sevilla showed their pride in the last 10 minutes of the match attacking & pressuring to at least try & attempt the consolation goal. There efforts won them praise & gave the Club an excellent image for all of World Soccer to witness. Congratulations to Sevilla FC.
Congrats to Real Madrid for another title. Next week the Spanish Super Cup ( home & away ) against Liga Champs Atletico de Madrid. More great Spanish Football action.
European Football kicks off tomorrow with the Final of the UEFA Super Cup between the Champions League winners, Real Madrid, & the winner of the Europa League, Sevilla FC. An all Spanish Football affair to be played in the city of Cardiff (Wales, UK) with Real Madrid being slightly favourite beforehand. However, Sevilla FC come in extra motivated & have worked hard all pre-season with this title, & defeating Real Madrid as a mayor objective.
While the Sevilla FC line-up is still "up in the air", Real Madrid is easier to guess. Coach Ancelotti has already announced that Iker Casillas will start, while Xabi Alonso is suspended for a match, team-mate Gareth Bale is sure to start in this home town of Cardiff (Wales). These three facts allows Football observers to speculate with the Real Madrid starting 11 line-up against Sevilla:
Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Kroos, Modric, James, Bale, Benzema & Cristiano Ronaldo.
Very impressive with big names, big guns & all World Class Soccer players in their respective positions. There is no doubt Real Madrid is favourite for most observers. However, there are new names (Kroos & James) that will need to blend in & this is not easy. Benzema plays his first real match & may feel that he is out of form. Cristiano Ronaldo looks great but lets remember that he comes out of injury & tomorrows match will test him. Lastly, Iker Casillas is under extreme pressure, a mistake in this Final will open the doors to severe criticism & may also the door to newly signed keeper Keylor Navas. In conclusion, big test for Real Madrid who will face a currently more coherent, motivated & synchronized Sevilla FC.
Top match not to be missed!
The dates for the upcoming UEFA Super Cup & Spanish Super Cup have been released. They are interesting because both titles are all Spanish Football Clubs & because our Welsh (Wales-UK) readers will be treated to the UEFA Super Cup Final in the city of Cardiff.
The UEFA Super Cup that will face Spanish Football Clubs Real Madrid (Champions League winners) & Sevilla FC (Europa League winners) will be held on Tuesday August 12th at Cardiff (Wales), while the Spanish Super Cup between Atletico de Madrid (Spanish Liga winners) & Real Madrid (Spanish Cup winners) will be held on Wednesday August the 20th - 1ºleg - & 27th August - 2ºleg.
The Spanish Liga season 2014-2015 kicks off the 24th of August. This has been confirmed by the Spanish Football & Liga Professional (LFP).
Managed to find this image of the ATLETICO DE MADRID TEAM PHOTO season 2010 - 2011, or better said, the UEFA Super Cup 2010 starting line-up team photo against Inter Milan & that won the trophy 0-2.
