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#2 Hit: Saul Niguez
Atletico Madrid’s all-action man, the Spaniard was excellent in the middle of the park, dictating play at times for the Los Rojiblancos. The 23-year-old was at the heart of almost every Atletico Madrid move in the Super-Cup and made sure he was available defensively as well, before putting the tie to bed with a superb volley.
His stats for the night make a rather fascinating read and his ability to show up in the biggest games should frighten La Liga teams next season. Without him, there is a good chance that Atletico would have struggled to make up ground, especially with Gabi leaving after making more than 410 appearances.
The Spaniard’s presence in midfield will be crucial in the upcoming season, especially if Diego Simeone wants to challenge for both the La Liga and the Champions League titles.
#2 Flop: Marco Asensio
Among Real Madrid’s potential replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, tonight was Asensio’s chance to show the world that he could replace the five-time Ballon d’Or superstar. However, things did not go according to plan and the young Spaniard wasn’t up to the mark.
While he did do comparatively well in Julen Lopetegui’s formation, the 22-year-old wasn’t up to his very best and showed that he still has ways to go. The Spaniard will soon be fighting for chances in Lopetegui’s starting eleven and the Super-Cup was the perfect chance to prove himself.
But with Luka Modric’s return (despite the rumors of a move to Serie A), Asensio needs to do more to cement his spot in the current squad, and missing the few good chances he had tonight, certainly doesn’t help his position.
