Real Madrid’s players celebrate on the pitch with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup match against Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff on Tuesday. (AFP)
Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new teammates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup.
World Cup stars Kroos and Rodriguez were making their Madrid debuts, while Bale was returning to his hometown, but it was Ronaldo, characteristically, who hogged the spotlight with a brace in the Welsh capital.
The Portugal captain claimed a 30th-minute opener from Bale’s cross and then slammed home a second goal shortly after half-time to earn the European champions what could be the first of six trophies this season.
“We knew this would be a complex game, but we played well and created goal-scoring opportunities,” said Ronaldo, who was named man of the match by his former Manchester United mentor Alex Ferguson.
On Kroos and Rodriguez, he added: “These are two crucial players for us. They played well and they helped the team win this important trophy.”
While 80-million-euro ($108 million) new recruit Rodriguez had a modest debut, Madrid’s new-look attack—which cost roughly 310 million euros to assemble—showed ominous flashes of quality.
Victory gave Madrid only their second Super Cup, after a maiden triumph in 2002, and enabled Carlo Ancelotti’s side to avenge a costly 2-1 loss at the hands of Europa League winners Sevilla in La Liga last season.
“The team played very well, especially considering we didn’t have much time to prepare,” said Ancelotti.
“Toni Kroos and James played well. James had a few more troubles than Kroos in the first half, but in the second half he played just as well as Kroos.”
While Ancelotti named both Kroos and Rodriguez in his starting XI, Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno was omitted from his side’s match-day squad amid reports he is on the verge of joining Liverpool.
With Germany midfielder Kroos sitting in front of the back four and Colombia star Rodriguez to his left in a 4-3-3 shape, Madrid quickly assumed control of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Bale and then Ronaldo, with a free-kick, saw efforts deflected narrowly off-target, before Bale’s outside-of-the-foot volley from a Rodriguez left-wing cross was blocked by a defender.
Madrid forwards click
A misplaced pass by Daniel Carvajal gave Sevilla winger Vitolo a chance to shoot at goal, obliging Iker Casillas to save at his near post, but Madrid were soon back on the front foot.
After Federico Fazio headed a deflected cross from Fabio Coentrao off his own line and Sevilla goalkeeper Beto blocked sharply from Ronaldo, Madrid’s lavishly assembled forward line clicked into gear for what their fans hope will be the first goal of many.
When a Sevilla attack broke down, Ronaldo flashed a pass inside to Rodriguez, who immediately sprayed the ball wide to Bale on the left flank.
The Cardiff-born Welshman took a touch before sending a fine, searching cross towards the back post, where Ronaldo powered in to volley home.
Moments later, a shanked clearance from Rodriguez meant that Casillas had to save from Daniel Carrico, but Madrid were good value for their half-time advantage.
Ronaldo doubled his side’s lead, and his personal tally, four minutes into the second period, gathering a pass from Karim Benzema and walloping a left-foot shot past international colleague Beto.
Beto prevented Madrid from extending their lead by clawing away a shot from Benzema and then brilliantly blocking a crisp strike by Rodriguez, who made way for Isco with 18 minutes to play. Beto also produced a late flying save to thwart Bale, who was unable to crown his return to Cardiff with a goal, but who has now won three titles in his first 12 months at Madrid.
“The big difference for Real Madrid was on the counter-attack,” said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. “We didn’t have to face many of them, but they took advantage of the ones they had very effectively.”