Zidane remains unbeaten in finals after shootout drama

Real Madrid are the Spanish Super Cup winners after winning 4-1 on penalties against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final. Saul hit the post with his spot kick while Courtois saved Thomas' penalty and Real Madrid converted all four of theirs to give Real the trophy. Zinedine Zidane has now won all nine finals as Real Madrid manager. Fede Valverde was voted the man of the match despite his tactical red card five minutes before extra time ended for bringing down Alvaro Morata as he was bearing down on goal.

The first 90 minutes of the game were largely forgettable. Casemiro and Kroos had half-chances early on, but the first real opportunity came in the 14th minute when Ramos sent a pass straight to Joao Felix and despite having time to pick his spot, he was unable to find the target. Atletico then had a good spell without really doing much bar a Morata chance before the half ended with Zidane's side on top, but Mendy was denied by Oblak and Casemiro could not find the target with his header. 

The second period of regulation was also very poor, but Real were the better side. Luka Jovic hit a shot across the keeper and just wide of the far post six minutes into the second half and then Valverde should have done better with his header in the 67th minute, but he could only head it onto his own thigh. For large parts, the game was very dull as a spectacle.

The last 10 minutes livened up though and Morata was denied by a terrific save by Courtois at his near post after a superb pass by Kieran Trippier. Then RM went up the other end and Mariano headed wide before Rodrygo was denied by the keeper in stoppage time. Thomas had the last chance to prevent extra-time as he tried to surprise Courtois at his near post, but the Belgian was up to the task. 

However, once extra time started, the match burst into life. Mendy for RM and Vitolo and Gimenez for Atleti all had opportunities in his first five minutes in extra-time. Both teams were desperate to avoid penalties, but Real looked the stronger. Kroos hit over the bar and Mariano headed wide Modric's cross also in the first period of extra time. 

In the final 15 minutes of football, it was like basketball. Morata went for an overhead kick from a corner and his effort was saved by Courtois' leg and then Oblak made a tremendous double save from Modric and Mariano ten minutes before the end. However, in the 115th minute, a Real Madrid free-kick suddenly turned into a dangerous Atletico counter and Morata was one on one with the keeper. Fede Valverde brought the ex-RM man outside the box resulting in a clear red card. Savic, Carvajal and Correa were booked in the resulting fight, but Valverde had taken one for the team. 

Atletico pressed towards the end of extra-time as time was running out, but Real also wanted to win it despite being one man down. Courtois made a brilliant save to deny Correa after he was played in by Thomas and the teams could not be separated after 120 minutes. 

In the shootout, Real Madrid won the toss and decided to go first. Carvajal, Rodrygo and Modric scored Real's first three with Oblak going the wrong way on all of them. Atletico, on the other hand, were not as good from the spot. Saul hit Courtois' right hand post and then Thomas' penalty was terrible and Courtois dived to his right to stop it. Despite Trippier converting Atletico's third, Sergio Ramos made no mistake with Real Madrid's fourth to crown 'Los Blancos' Spanish Super Cup champions and see Atletico lose yet another shootout against their city rivals.