Atletico beat Real Madrid to win UEFA Super Cup

Saul Niguez and Koke scored in extra time as Atletico Madrid fought back to beat city rivals Real Madrid 4 -2 and win the UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn on Wednesday , as Julen Lopetegui got off to a losing start with the European champions .
Real had earlier looked set to win the trophy in their first competitive game since the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Zinedine Zidane when a Sergio Ramos penalty put them 2 -1 up in the second half.
That came after Karim Benzema cancelled out Diego Costa ’ s first -minute opener in the Estonian capital , but Costa hauled Diego Simeone ’ s side level again late on to force extra time .

Simeone ’ s men then looked stronger in the extra period as they won this competition , the annual meeting of the Champions League and Europa League winners, for the third time in nine seasons .

“I stayed at Atletico because the project is a good one . I have confidence in this club , in the coach and I saw tonight that I was not mistaken , ” said Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann who was linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer .

Atletico defender Lucas Hernandez added : “To win this trophy is something great but to do it against our eternal rival is even better . ”

Real had won the trophy under Zidane in each of the last two years , and emerged victorious against their neighbours in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016.

But this result comes after a close season in which Atletico have strengthened while Real look to have gone backwards, with no replacement signed for Ronaldo after his move to Juventus .

– Griezmann starts , Modric on bench –

Griezmann started for Atletico at the compact Lillekula Stadium , fresh from helping France to World Cup glory last month .
In contrast , former Spain coach Lopetegui left Luka Modric on the Real bench at kick -off, seeking to ease the Croatian playmaker back after he led his country to the World Cup final .

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not feature at all following his recent arrival from Chelsea , while nine of Real ’ s starting line -up also started May ’ s Champions League final win over Liverpool in Kiev .

Atletico also had France winger Thomas Lemar making his competitive debut following his 72 million -euro ( $ 84 million ) move from Monaco , and they took the lead after just 49 seconds .

With Simeone watching from the stands as he serves a touchline ban , Costa met Diego Godin’ s long ball forward with his back to goal and nodded it over Ramos before turning to burst through and rifle a shot home from a tight angle .

It was a superb finish , but Real were level just before the half-hour via a combination of the two men expected to step up following Ronaldo ’ s departure .

Gareth Bale delivered a cross from the right and Benzema headed past Jan Oblak at the far post .

Lopetegui sent on Modric for Marco Asensio just before the hour mark and Real took the lead shortly after , Ramos scoring a 63 rd -minute penalty awarded for a Juanfran handball .

It looked like that would win it , yet Atletico showed great resolve to level the scores again in the 79 th minute as Juanfran and substitute Angel Correa combined to set up Costa to stab home .

Into extra time they went, and Atletico went ahead again in the 98 th minute, Thomas Partey pressing to win back possession before holding up a cross for Saul to thump a superb left-foot volley past Keylor Navas from 17 yards .
The powerful Costa and substitute Vitolo then set up Koke to make it 4 -2 , securing victory and giving Atletico their seventh trophy since Simeone took charge in late 2011.

Now they will hope to push Barcelona and Real all the way in La Liga , with their opening game at Valencia on Monday, after Lopetegui’ s side host Getafe on Sunday .

( AFP )

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