Atletico Madrid finally got the
better of Real Madrid on the European stage, scoring twice in extra time to win
4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup final in its rival game without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico got off to a flying start
with Diego Costa scoring the competition's fastest goal just 50 seconds in, but
Madrid came back to take a 2-1 lead as Los Blancos tried to prove they can
still win trophies without Ronaldo and with a new coach. But Costa equalized late in the
match with his second goal before Saul Niguez and Jorge "Koke" resurrection
sealed the victory in extra time on a cool night in Estonia's capital.
Atletico victory was over its
crosstown rival had added significance after they lost two Champions League
finals to Madrid in 2014 and 2016. Diego Simeone team was also eliminated by
Madrid in the 2017 semi-finals. The loss leaves new Madrid coach
Julen Lopetegui still having to prove that there is life after Ronaldo, who scored
450 goals in 438 matches before joining Juventus this summer and helped lead
the club to three straight Champions League titles.
Gareth Bale showed glimpses of his
pace and skill, but couldn't mimic Ronaldo's ability to decide a game on his
own. Instead,
Costa was the one who dominated at the Lillekula Stadium in Tallinn. He
overpowered Madrid's centre-backs in the first minute after a long ball from
Stefan Savic, first winning a header against Sergio Ramos and then muscling
past Raphael Varane to cut into the area where he beat goalkeeper Keylor Navas
at the near post.
Karim Benzema equalized in the 27th
minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Bale, who was able to break away from
Lucas Hernandez on the right and curl the ball into his fellow forward's path. Sergio
Ramos scored a penalty in the 63rd minute after Juanfran Torres handled in the
area as the ball flew over him from a corner.
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