Real Madrid wrapped up a convincing 5-1 aggregate win over Barcelona with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night to lift the Spanish Super Cup.
It is a result which should tee up another impressive season from the Spanish champions.
Here are five things we learned from the two legs.
The best players do not often make the best managers, but Zinedine Zidane has other ideas. The World Cup winner, who starred for Madrid between 2001 and 2006, has now won seven major trophies since replacing Rafael Benitez in January 2016, adding this trophy to the two Champions League titles, La Liga title, two UEFA Super Cups and the Club World Cup he has already piled up.
Madrid have moved to tie Zidane down to a new contract, and there is absolutely no mystery as to why.
Landing the Barcelona job is a dream for countless coaches around the world, but this might not have been what Ernesto Valverde had in mind. The first weeks of his tenure have seen the club rocked by Neymar’s shock departure to Paris Saint-Germain, and their struggles – so far – to land a replacement.
The full size of the job on Valverde’s hands was apparent over the 180 minutes of this match as Barcelona looked listless, short of their usual flair and well short of their usual cutting edge.
Midfielder Paulinho will be unveiled this week but that is not the sort of signing Barca need now. There is much work to be done and the clock is already ticking.
Madrid’s starting line-up on Wednesday betrayed Zidane’s confidence following the 3-1 victory in the first leg. Cristiano Ronaldo may have been starting his five-match ban for pushing the referee on Sunday, but Madrid left both Gareth Bale and Isco on the bench and gave Marco Asensio his chance to shine.
The 21-year-old did not waste the opportunity, rifling home an outstanding opening goal from 30 yards and proving a menace throughout. Arsenal had been linked with the Mallorca product in recent days, but can probably forget about Madrid letting him go now.
Last season an injured Bale had to watch Isco star for Madrid after taking his place in the side, and was only a substitute in a Champions League final played in his home city of Cardiff as a result. Zidane reiterated his faith in the Welshman before selecting him for the first leg, but now Bale would seem to have a fresh problem on his hands in the shape of Marco Asensio.
If he is not starting regularly, transfer speculation will whip up around Bale with talk Man United and Chelsea are interested, where does he fit in Madrid’s plans?
Madrid’s attacking prowess is well known but what was perhaps most impressive over the 180 minutes was the way their defence shut down Barcelona. Okay, so Barca twice hit the frame of the goal on Wednesday night, but over the course of the two legs their only goal came from the penalty spot.
Barca may carry a reduced threat without Neymar, but any side boasting Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez requires some serious marshalling. Sergio Ramos, Rafael Varane and company handled the job in style.
Provided by Press Association Sport
