Real Madrid sent out an ominous message to the footballing fraternity on Wednesday night as they cruised to victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup to seal Zinedine Zidane's seventh trophy in 18 months as a manager, despite dropping Casemiro, Gareth Bale and Isco and being without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real flew out of the blocks, pressing Barca deep in their own half and it was the hosts who threatened first. After just two minutes Marco Asensio got in down the left and pulled the ball back to Modric but the Croatian’s effort from the edge of the box was well blocked by Samuel Umtiti.
That fast start was compounded after 4 minutes as Asensio once again proved that he is one of the most exciting players in world football right now. The 21-year-old picked the ball up 35 yards out and as no Barca player came to close him down he nonchalantly curled the ball into the top corner past a helpless Ter Stegen. Incredibly, that goal meant that Asensio had scored with three of his last four short for Real Madrid.
Real looked full of intent and belief in the opening exchanges, in complete contrast to the visitors whose best forays forward were much lest clear-cut than their opponents’.
First Suarez got to the byline but with no support whatsoever his cut-back flashed all the way across goal and to safety. The Uruguayan then flashed a speculative volley over the bar from the edge of the box after being found by Rakitic.
Barca talisman Lionel Messi didn’t touch the ball for the first 10 minutes but when he finally did get hold of it he should have done better.
He drove forward through midfield before playing a one-two with Sergi Roberto on the right, that sent Messi in but he tried to round Navas from the angle when he may have been better served looking for the dink and the Costa Rican gathered.
Real then had to be alert to prevent Messi’s low cross from the left being turned in by suarez but from there on out it was all Real for the rest of the first half.
Marcelo flashed a low cross-cum-shot across the face of Ter Stegen’s goal before Lucas Vazquez started to get into the game more.
The winger saw two promising forays down the right almost produce a second with a delicious outside of the foot cross landing perfectly for Benzema four yards out, only for Pique to dangle a foot in at the last minute and clear.
Real were inches away from doubling their lead on the night just after the half hour mark as Lucas Vazquez’s left footed curler from the edge of the box crashed back off the post with Ter Stegen beaten.
They didn’t have to wait long for that second goal though. After 39 minutes, Barca failed to clear and the ball was worked out to Marcelo on the left. He fired in a low cross from the left and Benzema nicked in ahead of Umtiti on his blind side and flicked the ball up before volleying home with his left foot from six yards.
Vazquez and Benzema also tried their luck before halftime as Real did their best to turn it into a rout.
Real went in at the break two goals to the good and they looked to be in cruise control in the second half, barely getting out of second gear.
Indeed, Zinedine Zidane’s side brought problems on themselves on occasion through their complacency. Shortly into the second 45 Mateo Kovacic carelessly gave the ball away deep in Real’s half, allowing Messi to burst clear.
He looked to dink the ball over the onrushing Navas but saw his effort bounce down off the underside of the bar.
Seemingly angered by this blatant provocation Real went straight down the other end and forced Ter Stegen into a great save.
Asensio put Benzema in down the left with a first time pass. The Frenchman drove purposefully into the box and shot from a narrow angle with his left foot. He caught it beautifully but Ter Stegen managed to get something on it to tip it over.
Barca made slightly more of a fight of it as the second half progressed. Luis Suarez saw a tame header gathered by Navas before Sergi Roberto was inches away from connecting with Jordi Alba's teasing cross from the left. The visitors fluffed their best chance of the game so far after 66 minutes as Luis Suarez headed the ball wide of an open goal at the far post under pressure after Navas made a mess of collecting Messi’s free kick from the right.
Barca should have had a goal back with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.
First Sergi Roberto was played through on goal by Messi, he tried to take the chance early but Navas made the save. The ball was kept alive and Messi tried his luck from range. Once again Navas made the save, palming is away but only as far as Suarez who headed against the post and behind from an angle.
Messi then blazed over from range as he grew increasingly frustrated with his side’s inability to find the net.
Marcelo lashed wide for Real with the goal gaping late on but it didn't matter as Real clinched yet another trophy following their La Liga, Club World Cup and Champions League treble last season.
In truth, Real never looked unduly worried by their opponents, who face a huge final couple of weeks of the transfer window.