SAN FRANCISCO, August 16, (THEWILL) – Atletico Madrid came from behind on Wednesday to beat city rivals Real Madrid 4-2 and win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Atletico scored two goals from Diego Costa, for the first time ever against Real Madrid in an entertaining match played at the Le Coq Arena in Tallinin, Estonia.
In the first ever derby of the UEFA Super Cup, Atletico Madrid flew out of the block and scored the fastest goal of the European season’s curtain raiser on 49 seconds through bullish striker, Diego Costa.
Real Madrid’s new coach, Julan Lopetegui, was managing his first competitive match for the club following Zinedine Zidane’s surprise summer exit and his turbulent sacking from the Spanish national team on the eve of Russia 2018 World Cup, while Atletico Madrid’s coach was banned from the bench in continuation of his European ban.
With Real Madrid’s record goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, gone to Juventus, Marco Asensio took his spot as Lopetegui fielded the usual suspects who won a hat trick of consecutive Champions league, with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema upfront.
Real looked set to begin the post Ronaldo era by winning more silverware after Karim Benzema cancelled out Diego Costa’s early opener before a Sergio Ramos penalty put them ahead in the second half.
The 30-year old former Chelsea forward headed a long ball beyond both Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane with two touches before shooting with power and precision beyond Real ‘keeper, Keylor Navas, at his near post to hand Atletico the advantage.
Real Madrid, however, got their deserved equalizer on 27 minutes when Bale and Benzema combined to devastating effect. The welshman delivered a brilliant cross from the right wing for Frenchman, Karim Benzema, to head past Oblak from close range and score Real’s first post-Cristiano Ronaldo era goal.
But Costa made it 2-2 to force extra time, and Atletico emerged victorious as Julen Lopetegui’s competitive debut as Real coach ended in defeat as Saul Niguez and Koke scored in extra time for Atletico.
About the Author
