SNN Staff
Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:13 pm

Soccer News: Real Madrid Wins Spanish Super Cup over FC Barcelona

In a boost to the team’s moral and a reminder that anything can happen in the game of soccer, Real Madrid took advantage of mistakes by FC Barcelona to take a 2-1 win in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Together with Madrid’s 2-3 loss at Camp Nou the week before, the teams ended tied 1-1 in matches and 4-4 in goals, but Jose Mourinho’s side won the Cup on the strength of a 2-1 advantage in away goals.

The victory gave Madrid their first Super Cup in four years and Mourinho the trophy he has been working for. Previously he had managed teams to trophies in England, Italy and Portugal, with only the Spanish silver missing. The win also continued Barcelona’s drought in winning the Cup at Bernabeu, where they last clinched the trophy in 1968.

Madrid opened the match strong, with Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain challenging Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes in the seventh minute. Four minutes later defender Javier Mascherano was unable to clear a long inbound pass from Madrid’s Brazilian defender Pepe and Higuain took advantage with a low shot that slipped between Valdes’ legs.

Real struck again in the 22nd minute as Ronaldo collected a long pass, flicked it high to himself, and beat Valdes for the eventual winning goal. It was the Portuguese striker’s fifth consecutive game against Barcelona with a goal scored.

Barcelona’s woes increased in the 28th minute when Adriano was shown the red card for tripping Ronaldo, who was moving in for a one-on-one with Valdes. The visitors would be forced to play the rest of the game a man down.

In the waning moments of the first half, Barcelona’s golden boy Lionel Messi gave his team a measure of hope for the comeback. Taking a free kick from far outside, Messi curled a classic shot past the outstretched fingers of Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas to cut the lead in half. The goal was Messi’s fifteenth in Clasicos, tying him with former Real Madrid striker Raul and putting him in reach of Madrid’s Alfredo Di Stefano record 18 goals. It would be Barcelona’s only bright spot of the game.

In spite of being a man down, Barcelona never gave up, challenging Casillas as time ran down. Messi had one last opportunity in stoppage time, but his shot curled just past the post.

Real Madrid held strong, and the Cup was theirs after three years of watching Barcelona hoist the trophy. The win was also Madrid’s first of the season and an important success as they resume their hunt for the La Liga championship.

REAL MADRID celebrate - Image from Facebook