Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Spanish Super Cup, 5 Talking Points

3. Cristiano Ronaldo keeps Lionel Messi in his shadow on the latter's home turf

How does he get those six packs to glisten like that?

Before we talk about him, watch this:

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal vs Barcelona last night.. ??? pic.twitter.com/MQp7lh50Xb

— Football Expose (@FootballExpose) August 14, 2017

What a goal, eh. After all those comments and wisecracks about him having lost his dribbling ability, his pace, his oomph he underlined what he did over the course of April-May-June with an absolutely stunning goal yesterday. Suffice to say, the man is a beast.

And of course, he celebrated the way he did - nothing defines Cristiano Ronaldo quite like the rivalry he has with Leo Messi, does it?

While his booking for removing his shirt reiterated the utter idiocy of that rule - why is that an offence on par with a studs up challenge? - his second underlined the importance of VAR. While Samuel Umtiti might not have fouled him, it was certainly not a dive as the Frenchman's massive shoulders did brush him on his way past.

Why he did this, though, is beyond my comprehension... that bit was just silly, Cristiano and deserves a three match ban:

Cristiano Ronaldo pushed the referee (Video Credits: @padiru48 )pic.twitter.com/vBfoQTPiYC

— Troll Football Media (@Troll__Footbal) August 13, 2017

Meanwhile, this was Leo Messi's only meaningful contribution in the match: (to be fair to him, he should have got a penalty just before this incident after Sergio Ramos did what Sergio Ramos does to Leo Messi usually... but the Argentine didn't go down as theatrically as Suarez, so...)

Rather controversial call going against #RealMadrid. Suarez draws the penalty for #Barca, and Messi puts in the pen to tie it up pic.twitter.com/CpGkfb7vDp

— Dave (@DesTaquito) August 13, 2017

That assist to get Suarez away though (P.S. Navas did hit Suarez with his hand, so it's as much dive as Ronaldo's was)