World Cup winner Toni Kroos has won the UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid for the second consecutive year, after his side beat English record champions Manchester United. The Spanish champions were the dominant side in a 2-1 victory in Skopje.
It is only the second time in the competition’s 44-year history that the title has been defended, with AC Milan last completing the feat in 1990. It is fourth time Real have won the Super Cup, having also claimed the trophy in 2002, 2014 and 2016. Casemiro and Isco scored for the Madrid side in front of 35,000 fans, while Romelu Lukaku’s second half goal wasn’t enough to bring the English side back into the game. World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo started the game on the bench but made his return to action in the 82nd minute, having only returned from the summer holidays on Sunday.
Kroos pulls the strings in midfield
With the exception of the Portuguese superstar, head coach Zinédine Zidane played the same team that triumphed in the Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff last May. Gareth Bale played instead of Ronaldo, while José handed debuts to all three summer signings: Victor Lindelöf, Nemanja Matic und Lukaku.
Real Madrid were the dominant side for large spells of the match, spreading the ball quickly and with intent. Bale had the first chance inside the box within just three minutes. Casemiro headed the next chance off the crossbar before then converting minutes later following a long ball into the box from former Leverkusen defender Daniel Carvajal. Kroos and Luka Modric pulled the strings in the midfield, showing just why they are among the best midfield pairs in the world. Karim Benzema fired just wide of David de Gea shortly before half time.
Real see out the win
"Real Madrid is a club that is always hungry for trophies,” said Zidane before kick-off, in an attempt to draw a close to the criticism of Real’s poor pre-season. Madrid failed to win a single match during their US tour, with the exception of a penalty shootout win against the MLS All Stars. Indeed, they were beaten by United on penalties in an International Champions Cup tie in California.
Paul Pogba and Lukaku both passed up chances to reduce Madrid’s lead for last season’s Europa League winners, while Bale was denied Real’s third by the crossbar. Lukaku would eventually score the consolation goal for United, finishing off Nemanja Matic’s rebounded effort.