Real Madrid, UEFA Super Cup champions

Real Madrid wrapped up their first title of the season – the UEFA Super Cup – on Tuesday night after edging Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United 2-1 in Skopje. The LaLiga champions secured their fourth continental title under coach Zinedine Zidane thanks to goals either side of half-time from Casemiro and Isco, in the process ensuring that the Super Cup will return to Spain for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.

Los Blancos started the game strongly, dominating possession and opportunities in front of goal. They were rewarded with the lead after 24 minutes, Casemiro latching on to Dani Carvajal’s lofted pass over the defensive line and firing across David De Gea into the bottom far corner of the net.

The second half began much as the first had ended, with Real Madrid in the ascendancy. They didn’t have to wait long to double their lead. Isco picked up the ball on the edge of the area on 52 minutes, played a neat one-two with Gareth Bale before firing low past De Gea.

United fought back, however, and halved the deficit just after the hour mark. Romelu Lukaku was first to react to a rebound from Nemanja Matic’s shot from outside the box and beat Keylor Navas from close range.

With the game in the balance as full time approached, Zidane brought on Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio and Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid could have grabbed a third as time expired when Asensio was played in on goal by Vazquez, only to be denied by De Gea’s sharp reflex save, but still held on to secure a second consecutive UEFA Super Cup title.