'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Having secured a 3-2 win over Barcelona in the semi-final, Real Madrid met Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night.
Los Blancos, who were eliminated from the same competition by Bilbao last year, were out for blood and ultimately bagged a well-earned 2-0 win. The victory secured their first silverware of the season, ending their 18-month-long trophy drought.
Against the ninth-placed team in the table, the leaders were always expected to come out on top, especially after the semi-final win over arch-rivals Barcelona. Real Madrid knew they were the outright favorites from the get-go and made sure to stick the point home. Their passing, movement, and organization were all a notch above Bilbao, and the result, ultimately, turned out to be just a formality.
Despite struggling to find the killer touch, Real Madrid were regularly making inroads into the Bilbao box. After multiple close calls, the goal finally came in the 38th minute from the right boot of the great Luka Modric. In typically Modricesque fashion, the Croatian curled the ball home in style with aplomb.
In the second half, Real Madrid earned a controversial penalty after Yeray Alvarez was found guilty of handling Karim Benzema’s goal-bound effort. The Frenchman stood over the ball and converted it effortlessly to secure a two-goal cushion for the Royals.
Bilbao earned a penalty of their own in the 85th minute when Eder Militao was penalized for a professional handball. Fortunately for Los Blancos, Thibaut Courtois was more than up for the task and denied Bilbao their glimmer of hope by saving Raul Garcia's spot-kick.
Here are five Real Madrid players who brought their A-games and helped Carlo Ancelotti win the first trophy of his second stint at the Bernabeu.
#5 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema once again proved to be instrumental as Real Madrid got the better of a gritty opponent.
Thanks to Athletic Bilbao’s defensive organization, Benzema rarely got the opportunity to get his shots away, but his overall gameplay was as brilliant as ever.
In the second half, his unconvincing shot on goal hit Alvarez's outstretched hand inside the Athletic Bilbao box. VAR intervened and gave Benzema the opportunity to take his goal tally to 24.
The 34-year-old went to his left with power and beat Unai Simon convincingly to double Real Madrid’s advantage.
#4 Rodrygo Goes
With Marco Asensio ruled out with an injury, Rodrygo Goes had another chance to impress on the right-wing. The 21-year-old did not exactly set the flank on fire, but his performance was certainly encouraging.
On a night where Vinicius Junior was quieter than usual, Rodrygo emerged as the Whites’ most lethal forward.
He used his pace well to get around Mikel Balenziaga and expertly set up Modric’s first-half opener to put the Merengues firmly in control.
#3 David Alaba
Former Bayern Munich stalwart David Alaba has settled in effortlessly at Real Madrid. Wearing the iconic no.4 jersey previously worn by club legend Sergio Ramos, the Austria international is doing everything in his power to make a difference.
Last night, he once again proved his mettle, showing exactly why he is one of the highest earners at Real Madrid.
With Alaba ruled out with an injury against Barcelona, Real Madrid were practically in sixes and sevens at the back. There was a clear lack of organization, with neither Eder Militao nor Nacho managing to fill in Alaba’s boots.
Fortunately for Los Blancos, Alaba managed to recover in time for the final and made a tangible impact.
Alaba performed an excellent tackle on Inaki Williams, made two clearances, blocked one shot, and didn’t misplace even a single pass. Another fine display by Real Madrid’s most dependable defender of the season.
#2 Thibaut Courtois
Through consistent performances over the last couple of seasons, Thibaut Courtois has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s most important players.
The Belgian commands his box well, has improved his distribution, and looks a lot more surefooted in one-on-one situations.
The towering shot-stopper was not overly busy against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night, but he was there when his team needed him the most. In the 89th minute, the former Chelsea keeper denied Raul Garcia from the spot to maintain Real Madrid’s two-goal cushion.
The Bilbao substitute fired down the middle of Courtois’ goal to catch the Belgian international out. Courtois was diving to his left, but cleverly placed his foot in the way to deny Garcia his goal.
Overall, Courtois made two saves, performed two high claims, had two clearances and provided four successful long balls.
#1 Luka Modric
Los Merengues maverick Luka Modric once again defied biology to put in another match-winning shift in a crucial match. The 36-year-old was practically omnipresent and kept the Bilbao midfielders from getting into the game.
He was rarely dispossessed, never outsmarted, and he always seemed to know how to make the most impact.
Bilbao’s slow start allowed the Madrid midfielders to venture further up the pitch than they generally do in the opening exchanges. Modric and Toni Kroos were regularly occupying dangerous positions in and around Unai Simon’s box, and the Basque outfit had no answer for it.
In the 38th minute, Rodrygo’s clever pass found Modric just inside the penalty area. Practically unmarked, the Croatian put his put through and beat Simon with an inch-perfect curling effort.
The Los Blancos no.10 bagged his first goal of the 2021-22 campaign and gave his side a firm foothold in the Supercopa final.
