Two extra time goals from Saul then Koke gave Atletico Madrid a hard-fought 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
Tallinn’s Lillekula Stadium played host to European football’s pre-season showpiece, and it took no time at all before Diego Costa opened the scoring – just one minute – but goals from Karim Benzema and then a Sergio Ramos penalty gave Real the lead, before Costa levelled late on to send the tie to extra time.
Having lost both the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals to their bitter rivals, Atletico were buoyed by that late equaliser and first Saul bagged an impressive volley to put the Colchoneros back into the lead, then Koke made sure his side began the season by lifting some silverware.
LIFE WITHOUT CRISTIANO
Now at Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow was still present in Tallinn after a stunning defeat. Julen Lopetegui’s men shellshocked at first, did exert some of that Champions League winning nous, and controlled plenty of the game, both before and in extra time. Little mistakes and the lack of a leader in forward line will certainly raise questions at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Bale, Benzema and Asensio often rotated but never had that reference point they once did, and it was apparent. Of course it’s early days, and replacing a footballing great like Ronaldo was never going to be easy, but there is definitely work to do at Real.
DEADLY DIEGO
Strong, bustling, incessant and the first Spanish player to bag a brace in the UEFA Super Cup. Diego Costa went up against Sergio Ramos in a brutal duel, and came off the well deserved winner. Offered Atleti an outlet, was deadly when he got his chances, and looks back to his very best following a tumultuous couple of years away from LaLiga. He emobdied the hard work, and sacrifice that Diego Simeone demands from his players, and spoke at length about in his pre/post-match press conferences. Costa crushed it.
