Real Madrid 2-0 (5-1 on agg.) Barcelona
No Ronaldo, no problem!
Admit it, sports betting fans – some of you thought Real Madrid may face a struggle without the world’s finest footballer.
Yet they just keep on winning football games with or without Cristiano.
That’s now two trophies this season and a ball has not yet even been kicked in La Liga.
Live betting hopes of a Barcelona turnaround lasted all but four minutes inside the Santiago Bernabeu.
That’s how long it took Marco Asensio to follow up his first-leg strike with another wonder finish – a long-distance shot which left Marc-Andre ter Stegen rooted to the spot.
The one-way traffic continued as Lucas Vazquez struck the post from Karim Benzema’s pass before the Frenchman doubled Madrid’s lead, showing his undoubted class six minutes before the break.
Lionel Messi hit the bar early in the second period but even had that gone in, even had Luis Suarez not seen a 71st-minute header hit the post, it wouldn’t have mattered.
Real long had the tie and the trophy in the bag and now have the Supercopa to add to the European Super Cup they clinched a week ago.
In contrast, Barca seem troubled.
They may have beaten Real in a meaningless pre-season encounter but have been well beaten over two legs when the competitive action has begun.
A less than pleasing start for Ernesto Valverde who will immediately be under pressure should the Catalans start their La Liga campaign badly, while the departure of Neymar seems to have rocked their confidence.
In addition, there are players in their line-up who would not have been considered good enough for the Catalan giants not so long ago.
Then there’s the signing of Paulinho, a player which could yet prove valuable for the club but not a signature which is sending pulses racing.
Then there’s the failure, so far at least, to secure a marquee signing to make the faithful believe again.
But enough about Barcelona, this was Real Madrid’s night.
It was also the 68th consecutive match in which they have scored, meaning they are now just six games away from equalling the world record set by Brazilian club Santos during Pele’s pomp.
The legendary Brazilian would no doubt approve of the Real class of 2017 who are very much in their pomp.
La Liga, it’s over to you!
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