Real Madrid seized the Supercopa de España for the twelfth time in club history on Sunday evening. In an exciting battle it turned out the Royal 2-0 too strong for Athletic Club. Luka Modric and Karim Benzema took care of the Madrid goal production. Things got tense in the final phase when Éder Milião was sent off with a direct red card and caused a penalty, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prevented Raúl García from taking advantage of the opportunity. The final battle, like the semi-finals, was played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Compared to el Clásico, Ancelotti could not have the injured Marco Asensio and Dani Carvajal infected with the corona virus. In the front right, Rodrygo was allowed to take over the honours, while Lucas Vázquez filled in the right back position. In the center back, David Alaba returned at the expense of Nacho Fernández. Trainer Marcelino decided to take on the same eleven names as in the won duel with Atlético Madrid (1-2). The game got off to a slow start before the first moment of excitement was noted in the thirteenth minute of play.
The school of.. Luka Modric ????? Unai Simón has to watch as the Croat passes him wonderfully: 1-0 ??#ZiggoSport #Super Cup #AthleticRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/YittJqUVKm
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) January 16, 2022
In an attempt to intercept a pass from Iñaki Williams within the box, Alaba got the ball against the forearm. However, both referee César Soto and the video referee on duty did not see a penalty kick in the moment. Five minutes later, Benzema came close to scoring the opening goal. The striker struck from the edge of the box, but his effort grazed the left post. Subsequently, Toni Kroos and Vinícius Júnior, among others, saw how their pinpricks did not produce the desired result.
Modric did manage to open the score more than seven minutes before the halftime signal. After an attack down the right wing, Rodrygo cut in and put the ball on the edge of the penalty area. There the Croatian midfielder was ready to curl the leather in the right corner in a beautiful way. With his goal, Modric, 36 years and 129 days, became the oldest goalscorer ever in Supercopa, passing Raúl García and Aritz Aduriz (both 34 years and 187 days). On the stroke of the halftime signal, Oihan Sancet hoped to level the score; his shot, however, went just wide.
The second half was just five minutes away when Real Madrid made the decision. A shot from Benzema was arm touched by the sliding Yeray Álvarez, after which Soto, on the advice of the video arbiter, pointed to the dot. Benzema took responsibility and knocked out goalkeeper Unai Simón in the bottom left corner: 2-0. Athletic was unable to bridge the gap in the remainder of the second company, while the Madrilenians seemed to be content with the score on the scoreboard. García came closest to a Basque goal, but his header in the 76th minute ended up in the side net.
Red still for Militao and then a great save from Thibaut Courtois ??#ZiggoSport #Super Cup #AthleticRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Qq4KZa8JEb
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) January 16, 2022
Still, three minutes before the end of regular time, things got tense. A header from García ended up on Militão’s arm, who seemed to prevent a goal. Soto was called to the screen and awarded Athletic a penalty while giving Militao a red card. García himself went behind the ball, but he saw how goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved with his foot. Real Madrid took the 2-0 win over the line and were allowed to cancel the Supercopa.
