Real Madrid won 2-1 the European Supercup final against Manchester United at Macedonia. The team managed by Zidane played a really good clash if we compare it with the rest of the preseason games where they didn’t win any friendly match. For second consecutive year they have become in the European Superup champion.
Zinedine Zidane decided to introduce his best line-up with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo who waited his chance on the bench after only three days with his teammates. Bale played as a left winger while Isco was the player who had to connect the midfield with the attack.
Manchester United started the game playing with more intensity that Real Madrid and having the first opportunities of the final. Mourinho seemed very happy with the performance of his players in the first 15 minutes, but when Modric and Isco started to have the ball possession, Manchester United had several problems to steal it. In fact, in the 15th minute Casemiro had the clearest chance of the game but the ball finished in the crossbar. The Brazilian stopper was being the best player of Zidane’s side and only 10 minutes later he opened the scored board from an assist of Carvajal, in a possible offside. After this goal, Los Blancos controlled even more the game and they were being superior, proving that in the finals their level grows.
Real Madrid starter the second half in a similar level as the first one. Toni Kroos had the first opportunity , but his shot finished in a corner kick after a brilliant save of De Gea. The second goal was going to arrive, and in 52nd minute Isco scored the second one for Los Blancos after a great assist of Gareth Bale. The Spaniard playmaker did an incredible game, being the guide in the midfield and having a lot of mobility. José Mourinho did several changes thinking in a possible come back, but Los Blancos seemed very confortable. In fact the team managed by Zidane had the 61% of the possession while Manchester United 39%. Suddenly, Lukaku scored the first goal for The Red Devils after a long range shot from Matic that was rejected from Keylor Navas. There were still many minutes remaining and it looked like Mourinho’s side was going to pressure a lot to Real Madrid.
In the 74th minute Zidane started to make changes in the line up, replacing Isco by Asensio and Baly by Lucas Vázquez. The French manager wanted with these changes more verticality with the goal of having a counter attack to finish the game. In the 81st minute Rashford had a great chance to tie the game but Keylor Navas saved Real Madrid with an incredible stop. Zidane decided to introduce Cristiano Ronaldo by Benzema, and we saw the Portuguese star very fit, and creating danger to Manchester United defense.
Finally, Los Blancos won the title in a very tough final where Zidane’s team was superior, but Manchester United had some clear chances to tie the game. Now Real Madrid must focus in he Spanish Supercup against Barcelona that will be played next Sunday.
