Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao to become Spanish Super Cup champions for the 12th time and handed Carlo Ancelotti his first trophy since his return to the club.
In the white-hot atmosphere of Riyadh, Los Blancos kept their cool against a spirited Bilbao side who arrived fresh on the back of a semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid. Luka Modric gave Los Blancos a first-half advantage and Karim Benzema doubled the lead from the penalty spot shortly after the break.
Los Leones kept running as boss Marcelino introduced some fresh legs, but they couldn’t get a foothold in the game, with Raul Garcia missing a late penalty in their last throw of the dice.
Highlights of the Game
The Spanish Super Cup 2022 highlights told a story of Real Madrid confidence and Athletic Bilbao belief that they could harry and hassle the favourites, and so they did until Los Blancos took a grip on the game towards the end of the first half.
Inaki Williams was Bilbao’s hero when they won the Super Cup last season, scoring a brilliant late winner to beat Barcelona. He had the first opening of this game, but David Alaba slid in to stop his effort. The ball hit the defender’s arm but VAR said no penalty on this occasion.
Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Barcelona in the semi-final, Los Blancos’ 100th El Clasico victory, tested Ancelotti’s side over an exhausting 120 minutes, but they quickly found their legs in this final. Benzema sent in a warning shot which flew narrowly wide.
Los Leones were under pressure as Real pressed high, and they fell under the pressure on 38 minutes as the Whites struck the first lethal blow. Rodrygo left Mikel Balenziaga standing as he raced down the wing where he pulled the ball back for Modric, and the Croatian midfielder curled a beauty into the top corner, giving Unai Simon no chance.
Any thoughts Bilbao had of a comeback were crushed on 50 minutes when a shot from Benzema hit Yeray Alvarez on the arm and VAR changed the ref’s decision from a corner to a penalty. The French goal machine took the spot kick and slammed it into the corner of the net as Simon stretched with no success.
Marcelino brought on young star Nico Williams and his fresh legs added some life to Bilbao’s attack; he almost created a goal when he put a dangerous ball in, across the six-yard area, but Garcia’s effort was blocked.
Los Leones had a good period and looked likely to break through, especially when Marcelino gambled again and threw on 18-year-old Nico Serrano. The young winger tested Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois twice: once from distance and the other a smart effort from just inside the penalty area but the Belgian stopper was equal to both efforts.
And he was on hand again to frustrate Los Leones when a golden opportunity came on 85 minutes. Brazilian defender Eder Militao stopped a header with his hand and was sent off as well as conceding a penalty.
Garcia stepped up and went down the middle, but Courtois saved with his trailing legs.
Key statistics
The Spanish Super Cup 2022 betting odds backed a Real Madrid win at a price of 1.68 and from the moment Modric broke the deadlock the result was rarely in doubt.
This was the third defeat inflicted on Marcelino’s Lions by the Madrid giants in the last two months, after they fell to a 2-1 and a 1-0 defeat in La Liga in December.
Barcelona still hold the record for the most Super Cup titles with 13 wins to Real Madrid’s 12, while Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna are sharing third place with three.
What’s next?
Back in Spain, there was drama in the Copa del Rey Seville derby this weekend when the match was abandoned when Sevilla’s midfield star Joan Jordan was hit by a metal pole thrown from the crowd. The incident happened as Real Betis celebrated an equaliser from Nabil Fekir. The game resumed behind closed doors on Sunday afternoon when Betis came through as Sergio Canales scored a late winner.
Next up for the Super Cup winners, Real Madrid will play their upcoming Copa del Rey tie away to Elche next Thursday, before returning to La Liga action to host the same team at the Bernabeu next weekend.
Los Blancos’ lead at the top of the table has been cut to five points by Sevilla, who have a game in hand, so we still have a fascinating title race on our hands. And you can enjoy all the action here at SBOTOP with news updates, previews and the best range of Asian Handicap betting offers on the market.
Athletic Bilbao’s Copa del Rey match brings them together with Barcelona before they travel away to Rayo Vallecano for a La Liga date next Sunday.
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