Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid claimed their first open play victory over Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid in the current format of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday night (January 10). The teams exchanged blows freely in the first 90 minutes, bringing the score to 3-3 and taking the match to extra time in the semi-final at the Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In extra time, the whites took full control of the match and added two more goals to their tally, achieving a 5-3 victory over their local rivals.
Defenders show their adventurous side in regulation time
From Vinicius Junior to Antoine Griezmann, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid have some of the best attackers in the world. However, it was the defenders who stole the show on Wednesday.
In the sixth minute, Griezmann took an attractive corner towards the Real Madrid area, achieving a magnificent header from Atlético center back Mario Hermoso. Kepa Arrizabalaga was pinned on the spot when the 28-year-old’s shot found its way into the bottom right corner of the Madrid goal.
Real Madrid did not let itself be deterred by Atlético’s early goal and got the tie thanks to Antonio Rudiger in the 20th minute. The German, surprisingly unmarked inside the Atlético area, connected with Luka Modric’s perfect corner kick and beat Jan Oblak.
Real Madrid beat rival Atlético to advance to the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Cristiano Ronaldo’s field 🤍 pic.twitter.com/JOU6ZqvokT
– B/R Football (@brfootball) January 10, 2024
Nine minutes after Rudiger’s equalizer, another Real Madrid defender, Ferland Mendy, scored. The Frenchman applied a clever finish to Daniel Carvajal’s clever pass into the box, pushing the ball with the outside of his boot to send it into the bottom left corner.
Griezmann finally broke the defenders’ scoring streak with his emphatic shot in the 37th minute, restoring parity for Los Rojiblancos.
In the 78th minute there was a mistake inside the Real Madrid area that led to Rudiger’s own goal. Kepa failed to collect Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross inside the area, spilling it onto Rudiger and causing an unfortunate deflection that led to his own goal.
Atlético’s jubilation, however, was short-lived as Carvajal emerged as Madrid’s messiah just six minutes later. Jude Bellingham’s rebound reached the right back, who hit an unstoppable shot to find the roof of the net, making it 3-3!
The substitutes save the day for Real Madrid
Substitutes Joselu and Brahim Díaz scored in extra time to secure Real Madrid’s place in the final. In the second half of extra time, Joselu finished off a Carvajal cross into the Atleti area. The Spaniard didn’t make the best contact, but a lucky deflection from Stefan Savic ensured Oblak’s defeat.
In the 120+2 minute, Díaz made the most of his afterburners to seal the victory for the All-Whites. Oblak had gone forward to take a long kick into the Madrid area. The whites, however, stood firm and surpassed the halfway line. Despite being much closer to the ball, the Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper was unable to reach it, and Díaz quickly passed him and put the ball into the net from 35 yards.
BRAHIM DIAZ WHAT A GOAL!!!
REAL MADRID DO IT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/wwGfok5RVP
– TC (@totalcristiano) January 10, 2024
Had it not been for Ancelotti’s timely substitutions, Los Blancos would not be in Sunday’s final at Al-Awwal Park, where they will face either Barcelona or Osasuna.
