WATCH: Atletico Madrid Beats Rival Real in UEFA Super Cup in Extra Time
The early 2018-19 bragging rights belong to Atletico Madrid.
Atleti and rival Real Madrid traveled some 2,400 miles and required 120 minutes, but it was the former that captured the UEFA Super Cup after a 4-2 extra-time win in Tallinn, Estonia, on Wednesday.
The annual meeting of the reigning Champions League and Europa League winners pitted the two capital city foes against one another just days before the start of a new season kicks off in La Liga, and it's went to extra time after a pair of goals by Diego Costa were matched by strikes from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos. In the extra period, Saul Niguez's volley and Koke's follow soon after gave Atleti the decisive strikes to win the club's first trophy of the season. The Super Cup is the third won by Atletico Madrid after triumphs in 2010 and 2012.
The Madrid rivalry continued after losing its chief name over the past decade, with Cristiano Ronaldo departing Real Madrid for Juventus. Gareth Bale, Isco, Benzema and Marco Asensio are just some of the stars that will be counted on to fill the void under new manager Julen Lopetegui, and all featured on Wednesday.
Atletico, meanwhile, had a busy summer in which it landed the likes of Thomas Lemar and Gelson Martins and managed to keep Antoine Griezmann, Diego Godin and Jan Oblak. Diego Simeone's side managed to prevent Real Madrid from winning a third straight Super Cup (and fourth in five years) and now carries positive momentum into an intriguing domestic season in which both Madrid sides will look to dethrone Barcelona.
On Wednesday, Atletico Madrid took the lead some 50 seconds in off a gorgeous goal from Costa. The powerful forward beat both Ramos and Raphael Varane before getting to the end line and rifling a blast from a tight angle by Keylor Navas to make it 1-0.
Asensio nearly pulled Real Madrid even in the 17th minute in sensational fashion, only to be stoned by Oblak. The play started with a cross from the left by Marcelo, who picked out Asensio by the near post. With his back to goal, the Spanish forward nearly equalized on a back-heel flick, but Oblak instinctively made the save to keep it out.
The equalizer came about 10 minutes later, though. Bale broke free down the right side and delivered a pinpoint ball into the box for Benzema by the far post, where he headed back across goal to beat Oblak and make it 1-1.
Real Madrid nudged ahead in the 63rd minute from the penalty spot. Juanfran was whistled for a handball in the box as he jockeyed with Benzema off a corner kick, and Ramos stepped up to the spot-kick duties vacated by Ronaldo. His slow run up was followed by a clinical finish, giving Real Madrid the 2-1 edge.
The European kings couldn't see out the match with their lead, however. Juanfran made up for his handball with some superb work down the right-hand side, keeping possession by the end line before cutting back a cross to Angel Correa. His ball found Costa, and the forward's first-time finish secured his second goal of the match and brought Atletico Madrid even at 2-2 in the 78th minute.
Atletico Madrid went ahead in extra time on a sensational volley from Saul. The sequence started on an awful giveaway out of the back by Varane, who had the ball poked away. Thomas Partey delivered the assist to Saul, who volleyed home from the top of the box in the 98th minute to make it 3-2.
Koke followed with an insurance strike minutes later. Costa turned provider, squaring a ball for Vitolo, who then pushed it onto Koke. The Atleti veteran beat Navas with a low, bounding shot to give his side a 4-2 edge in the 104th minute and seal the victory.
Here were the lineups for both sides:
Real Madrid begins its season in La Liga on Sunday when it hosts Getafe, while Atletico Madrid travels to Valencia in a tricky opening fixture on Monday.
