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Madrid is red and white! - Atletico get better of Real in UEFA Super Cup

Published:Wednesday | August 15, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Atlético Madrid celebrate with the UEFA Super Cup trophy after their 4-2 win over city rivals Real Madrid at the Lillekula stadium in Tallinn, Estonia, yesterday.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP):

Atletico Madrid finally got the better of Real Madrid on the European stage, scoring twice in extra time to win 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup final yesterday in Real's first game without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Atletico got off to a flying start with Diego Costa scoring the competition's fastest goal just 50 seconds in, but Madrid came back to take a 2-1 lead as Los Blancos tried to prove they can still win trophies without Ronaldo and with a new coach.

But Costa equalised late in the match with his second goal before Saul Niguez and Koke sealed the victory in extra time on a cool night in Estonia's capital.

 

ADDED SIGNIFICANCE

 

Atletico's victory over their crosstown rivals had added significance after they lost two UEFA Champions League finals to Madrid in 2014 and 2016. Diego Simeone's team was also eliminated by Madrid in the 2017 semi-finals.

The loss leaves new Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui still having to prove that there is life after Ronaldo, who scored 450 goals in 438 matches before joining Juventus this summer and helped lead the club to three straight Champions League titles. Gareth Bale showed glimpses of his pace and skill, but could not mimic Ronaldo's ability to decide a game on his own.