Costa crushes Ramos: Winners and losers as Atletico beat Real to win 2018 Super Cup

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Atletico Madrid beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 4-2 after extra-time in Estonia to win the 2018 UEFA Super Cup.

Diego Simeone’s men got off to the perfect start, with Diego Costa giving them the lead inside 60 seconds but Real drew level midway through the first half via a Karim Benzema header.

Real then took the lead from the penalty spot through Sergio Ramos before Costa got his second of the game with 10 minutes remaining to take it to extra-time.

Saul Niguez put Atletico ahead in the first half of extra-time, with a thumping volley, and Koke capped off the scoring as La Rojiblancos got the better of their rivals to win the UEFA Super Cup.

At the same time, new Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui got off to a losing start, ending Los Blancos’ run of eight straight final wins under previous boss Zinedine Zidane.

Here are the winners and losers from the UEFA Super Cup final.

Winner: Diego Costa

On Tuesday night, Diego Costa was back wearing his favoured no.19 jersey and back as one of the most frightening strikers in European football.

His opening goal summed up the Spaniard’s game perfectly, showing bravery in the air against Ramos before chasing his own knock-on with perseverance to get himself in front of the defender to force either a foul or shot.

Costa’s effort was the fastest goal in a European cup final at 49 seconds, beating the previous record set by Paolo Maldini in the 2005 Champions League final for AC Milan against Liverpool.

And the striker pulled Atletico level late on in normal time, being in the right place at the perfect time to tap the ball in after good work from Angel Correa.

Goalscoring was not enough for the Spaniard either, as he played big parts in Atletico’s third and fourth goals through sheer determination, still running deep into the first half of extra-time.

Loser: Sergio Ramos

Many neutrals will have been watching the game on Tuesday night, hoping for Real Madrid, and especially Sergio Ramos, to fail.

Going into the match, the Spanish centre-back was still engaging in his war of words with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after his part in Real’s 3-1 Champions League final win in which he injured Mohamed Salah and affected Loris Karius.

“Some of us have been operating at a very high level for many years, not sure he can say the same,” he said. And he looked to have been right up until the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Despite being at fault for Atletico’s goal inside a minute, Ramos picked up his form from then on helping to keep Costa under control as Real grew into the game. So much so that his compatriot kicked his head in frustration following a first-half collision.

Then, in the second half, in the absence of Ronaldo, Ramos stepped up to take a penalty which he converted calmly to give his side the lead – his fifth against Atletico in all competitions.

His celebration was that of a man who believed he had won the game, first doing the Ronaldo leap before walking with the swagger made famous by Vince McMahon and replicated by Conor McGregor.

But ultimately, Ramos would end up on the losing side as his Real defence collapsed in extra-time with a yellow card to cap off his sad night.

Winner: Saul Niguez

Going into extra-time, many may still have fancied Real Madrid to win the Super Cup given their control of the later stages in normal time.

But midway through the first half, Atletico took the lead via a thundering volley from Saul Niguez which turned the tide of the match in the favour of Diego Simeone’s men.

Tuesday’s game was the 29th in which Saul has scored in for Atletico Madrid, and in each of the previous 28 Los Rojiblancos were unbeaten, drawing just four times. In addition, it was the eighth time he has scored in European knockout football – three of which came in last season’s Europa League en route to winning the trophy.

Need an important goal? Better call Saul.

Loser: Keylor Navas

With new goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not yet ready to start for Real Madrid, Keylor Navas was handed potentially his last chance to prove himself to either Julen Lopetegui or any scouts watching.

But the Costa Rican was picking the ball out of his net within just 49 seconds of the start, when he really should have done better.

While nothing can be taken away from Costa for his run and finish, Navas was beaten far too easily at his front post having given the Spaniard the space to aim into, making himself smaller as opposed to bigger.

Navas also allowed himself to be beaten by Correa’s cut back with 10 minutes to go, leaving Costa with a relatively easy opportunity to level the scoring.

Though the Costa Rican could do little about Atletico’s third or fourth, Real Madrid will be rushing to get Courtois fit ahead of the new La Liga season.

Winner: Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale

With Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid in the summer, two of the club’s forward stars have been given the chance to breathe in attack and they are certainly taking it.

Both Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, whose future Ronaldo’s presence had put into doubt, started against Atletico on Tuesday and looked like completely different players.

Refreshed, partially down to a free summer, Benzema and Bale were playing with complete confidence in their own abilities and understanding with one another – without trying to overshadow each other.

When Bale received the ball out wide, Benzema knew exactly what the Welshman intended to do, reading the cross to the back post, heading across goalkeeper Jan Oblak to draw Real level.

Though it was not to be for the pairing, and Real, on the night things do look bright for Benzema and Bale.

Loser: Juanfran

Though he has been a valuable servant over the years for Atletico Madrid, Juanfran’s time at the club may need to be put to an end soon.

The Spaniard, 33, looked slow on Tuesday night against a Real front line eager to impress and his forays forward often left Atletico open to the counter down his wing.

Juanfran was also the culprit for handball inside the penalty area, resulting in Ramos’ spot kick which had put his side on the back foot. And though he did play a role in Atletico’s equaliser, it was more Marcelo’s mistake which played him in.

What makes Juanfran’s performance even worse is the fact Atletico loaned out Sime Vrsaljko for the season to Inter Milan, leaving the club just 16 days to look for a potential right-back or face needing Juanfran until January.

The post Costa crushes Ramos: Winners and losers as Atletico beat Real to win 2018 Super Cup appeared first on Squawka News.



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