Karim Benzema and Luka Modric’s goals helped Real Madrid overcome Athletic in Riyadh to win their 12th Super Cup in a final decided with a fine goal from the duo.
Real Madrid clinched their first title of the season with the club’s 12th Spanish Super Cup against Athletic in Riyadh. A solid Real Madrid side outclassed their opponents and added to their trophy haul courtesy of Modrić’s 38th minute strike and Benzema’s 52nd minute penalty.
Courtois was at his best in the 86th minute to keep out Raúl García’s penalty, after Militão had been dismissed. Real Madrid left Saudi Arabia with another trophy as Modrić was named man of the match in the final.
The first half was played at a high intensity without many big chances being created until Modrić’s goal. The first chance came after 18 minutes when Benzema’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Unai Simón.
Casemiro tried his luck nine minutes later, cutting in from the right and almost catching out the Athletic goalkeeper. The opening goal in the final soon followed and what a goal. Rodrygo lured in three defenders before slipping in Modrić who beat Unai Simón with a beautiful right-footed strike in the 38th minute.
The Basque side looked to level things up in stoppage time when Sancet’s shot went just over the bar.
The Whites got off to a fine start to the second half when in the 50th minute Benzema fired the ball goal-wards from the edge of the box and the Frenchman’s effort struck Yeray on the arm inside the area.
After consulting with the monitor, Soto Grado awarded a penalty and the France international converted the spot-kick to double the madridista’s lead. It was Benzema’s second goal in this year’s competition, which made him top-scorer in the tournament.
Madrid were largely unthreatened until the 87th minute, when Raúl García’s header hit Militão on the arm inside the box. Soto Grado once again went over to the monitor and awarded Athletic a penalty and subsequently gave the Madrid defender a red card.
Courtois then pull off a stunning save with his feet to deny García. There was still time for Ancelotti to bring on Marcelo, who became the current Madrid player with the most trophies to his name (23).
