SPORTS DESK
RIYADH: Real Madrid claimed the Spanish Super Cup title after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the final in Saudi Arabia.
Los Blancos veterans Luka Modric and Karim Benzema were both on target in the win.
Real took the lead in the 38th minute after Rodrygo sprinted past two defenders before passing to Modric, who rifled a shot into the back of the net.
Benzema extended its lead in the second half with a penalty after the video assistant referee spotted a handball from Yeray Alvarez inside the area.
Real were reduced to 10 men three minutes from time after Eder Militao was sent off for a goalline handball.
Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois brilliantly stopped Raul Garcia’s penalty kick with his left foot in the dying seconds.
“You can never get tired of winning,” Modric told a news conference.
“I enjoy the same every title, when you play at Real Madrid you have to win. It’s part of the DNA of this club. Fans expect the most of you. So now we have to look forward to win more and again in the next months.”
After two exciting semifinals, the final was a one-sided encounter, with Real Madrid completely dominating and never facing any real danger.
Real enjoyed the great majority of support from the 30,000 fans at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium, which was at 50% capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
France striker Karim Benzema had the backing of the Saudi supporters, but it was Modric’s night.
Carlo Ancelotti had said in the buildup to the game that his side was the very essence of a counterattacking team and on Sunday Modric and forward Rodrygo would have made their coach proud, with a perfectly executed counter to open the scoring.
Benzema has made a habit of scoring against Athletic and doubled the advantage from the spot with his 18th goal in 26 games against the Basque side, the most he has scored against one team in his career.
It was the 12th time Real had won the Spanish Super Cup, having claimed both editions of the competition in Saudi Arabia. Last year’s edition, won by Athletic, was held in Spain due to the pandemic.
