JEDDAH – Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the first edition of the revamped Spanish football Super Cup in Saudi Arabia following a goalless draw after extra time in a tense final on Sunday.
Captain Sergio Ramos converted the decisive fourth penalty for Real after Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Modric had scored for his side. Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey failed to convert for Atletico, with only Kieran Trippier beating goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Atletico keeper Jan Oblak and Courtois were the top performers in a cagey 90 minutes which forced extra time for the fifth consecutive final between the city rivals since 2013.
Real had midfielder Federico Valverde sent off in the 115th minute for hauling down Alvaro Morata but Zinedine Zidane’s side survived the final stretch of the game and kept their nerve in the shootout.
It is the 11th time Real have won the Super Cup, which was the traditional season curtain-raiser between the league and Cup winners. The competition was expanded to four teams by the national federation and moved to Saudi Arabia in a three-year deal worth a reported 120 million euros ($133 million) (Reuters)
