Real Madrid put an end to their historical bad luck in the European Super Cup that affects the Champions League winners in this tournament. Since 2002, the UEFA Europa League champions had always lifted the trophy in even years.
Valencia was the first to win it in 2004, beating Porto in Monaco, who had conquered the biggest European title a few months earlier.
Real Madrid’s rival in Cardiff, Sevilla, suffered the good and bad of this competition. They won the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, but only managed to succeed in one of the two Super Cup finals they played. It was in 2006, when they thrashed Barcelona 3-0, while in 2007 they lost to Milan 3-1.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the man of the match of this year’s Super Cup, also suffered this peculiar bad luck in 2008. He won the Champions League with Manchester United, but the Red Devils were unable to conquer the Super Cup, as they were defeated by Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Atletico Madrid, winners of the Europa League in 2010 and 2012, benefited from this situation by winning the trophy in an even year. However, Real Madrid ended this unusual run against Sevilla, closing the circle they had started: Los Blancos had been the last Champions League winner to lift the Super Cup in an even year, back in 2002 against Feyenoord.
