A curtain raiser for the European nights in the up and coming season, the UEFA Super Cup always tends to provide an entertaining night of football. A match in which both teams went the entire length of the game, with both sets of players trading punches like a boxer, looking for the other to give in.
Real Madrid once again refused to give in and finally got the breakthrough before Carvajal scored a sublime winner to ensure that the tie didn’t extend to the penalty shootout. Here are the five talking points –
#5 Franco Vazquez – another bargain buy by Sevilla
Over the years, Sevilla’s model of buying and spotting talent and then developing them before selling them on for profits has served the club well. This kind of financial model has entailed them to invest in other aspects of the club mainly academy and the stadium.
Franco Vasquez, a €15 million purchase from Palermo looks set to be thrown in the deep end. It took him a while to get going, a good half an hour atleast, but as the game progressed he established his presence. His finish was a wonderful finish, a fine left footed volley that would have the Sevilla fans purring.
His link up play with Konoplyanka time and over was something to admire and Jorge Campaoli will hope to develop that understanding further.
#4 Zinedine Zidane joins hallowed company
What a crazy year this has been for Zidane. Thrust into the job after Rafael Benitez’s departure, he has calmed and steadied the ship. While last season, not much was expected, he still ended up delivering the title which Mardistas covet the most – the UEFA Champion’s League.
Now after his win in the European Super Cup, he is now one of the few individuals to have won it as both a player and coach. He was the latest entrant in a list which comprises of Ancelloti, Guardiola, Simeone and Luis Enrique. Two trophies within a period of 8 months is not a bad haul for a coach who hasn’t had the experience of managing in the top league.
The upcoming season, though, will be more of a test with a clean slate, and the onus will be again to sustain title challenges on all fronts. Choosing to give the younger players a chance and trusting their ability, Madrid started off with a bang when Asensio blasted them into lead.
Although over the match, Sevilla wrestled the initiative away, it was the manner in which the team combated to conquer victory is what Zidane will take away from this performance.
#3 Jorge Sampaoli came with a gameplan
After his time with Chile, Jorge Sampaoli has enhanced his reputation by playing an attacking team. His methods are a combination of quick pressing and quick turnover from defence to attack.
After replacing Unai Emery at the helm over the summer, Jorge has a tough act to follow but if the current displays are a sign of things to come, then Sevilla fans will have a gala of a time.
With Champions League football on offer this time, Jorge will do well to take lessons of concentration from the game. With key players such as Gameiro, Banega and Krychowiak departing over the summer for fresher challenges, Sampaoli will do well to incorporate his style of play.
#2 Daniel Carvajal’s winner was a reward for his consistent performance
From the days of Michel Salgado, there has always been a constant stream of right backs who have served Madrid loyally. After missing out the Euros with the Spanish national team due to an injury he sustained in the Champions League final, Carvajal seemed like a player making up for lost time.
Before scoring the deserved winner, he was a constant threat down the right wing without compromising on his defensive duties.
With Marcelo on the other flank doing a commendable job as well, Madrid looked a balanced squad with both full backs providing great width. Carvajal ooked well prepared for the upcoming season and if everything goes to plan, one can expect him to be a regular presence in the Real Madrid squad.
A fighter throughout, he started his career with Real Madrid B, before moving to Bayer Leverkusen where his performances forced Real Madrid to activate the buy-back clause. His only season in the Bundesliga helped him finish as one of the best three backs in the 2012-13 season.
#1 Sergio Ramos leads the way once again
It has now become a habit for Ramos, to pop up with last gasp equalizers. After scoring in the finals last season to help Madrid win another Champions League, he was at it again as he grabbed a goal in the 93rd minute of normal time to force the tie into extra time.
The La Liga season commences on August 21st and by the looks of it, Ramos is already determined to put the disappointment of the Euros behind him. Deservedly, the man of the match after an imperious display in which he led a young team by example and ensured that Real Madrid hit the season running. Playing in a team devoid of big names such as Bale, Ronaldo and Kroos, he took the onus of scoring the important equalizer before putting in a commanding display in defence in extra time.
For a moment it seemed that he had even got the winner before the referee ruled it out for offside.
