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szdaily -> Sports -> 
Real wins Spanish Super Cup
    2020-01-14  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

REAL Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout Sunday to win the first edition of the new-look Spanish Super Cup that was held in Saudi Arabia despite criticism from human rights groups.

Madrid won the shootout 4-1 after the final ended 0-0 after extra time. Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos all converted their spot kicks for Madrid.

Atletico’s Saul Niguez missed his first penalty and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois blocked the second attempt by Thomas Partey. Kieran Trippier converted for Atletico.

“I had studied their penalty-takers before,” Courtois said. “I knew where Thomas was going to shoot. It was a good save because he struck it hard.”

Madrid played the final five minutes of added time with 10 men after Federico Valverde was shown a direct red for fouling Alvaro Morata when he had only Courtois to beat.

“The most important play was the one by Valverde, who stopped us from having a chance that could have decided the match,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “He won the match.”

For Atletico, it was another loss in a final against a bitter rival. Madrid beat Atletico on penalties in the 2016 Champions League final, and had won in extra time in the 2014 Champions League final. Atletico got some revenge by beating Madrid in the 2018 European Super Cup.

Zinedine Zidane added to his impressive statistic of having led Madrid to victory in all nine finals he has coached. Those include three Champions League finals.

“As a player it was the same, I gave it all on the pitch and I had my rewards. And the same thing is happening as a coach,” Zidane said. “Above all I want to congratulate my players. We believed in the win until the very end.”

Few Spanish fans traveled to the matches played thousands of kilometers from home with the crowd at the King Abdullah stadium largely supporting Madrid. The final featured more missed passes and fouls than scoring opportunities until late in added extra time. Regular time saw glaring misses by Valverde and Atletico forward Joao Felix.

The Spanish soccer federation’s deal to play in Saudi Arabia was reportedly worth 120 million euros (US$134 million) with the competition expanded to four teams instead of two and moved from the start of the season to its midpoint. The federation said the agreement will help Spain in its attempt to host the 2030 World Cup in a joint bid with Portugal.

The federation was not deterred by criticism from human rights activists and the recommendation of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for European teams not to play in countries “where the basic rights of women are not respected.”

Federation president Luis Rubiales has tried to deflect the criticism by highlighting that opening the games to women spectators was part of the deal to play the matches in the energy-rich Middle Eastern kingdom. Moving the competition abroad seemed to dim interest in the minor trophy in Spain, but the semifinals produced two exciting contests. Madrid beat Valencia 3-1 while Atletico rallied past Barcelona 3-2.(SD-Agencies)

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