Manchester United vs Real Madrid - as it happened: Los Blancos retain Super Cup trophy
Re-live all the action from the clash in Skopje, Macedonia
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United face Real Madrid in the annual European curtain-raiser as the Europa League winners take on the reigning Champions League holders. Follow the latest here.
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Preview...
Arguably the two biggest teams in world football go head to head in the final of the Super Cup on Tuesday. The Champions League winners, Real Madrid, will be fighting for the first piece of real silverware of the season with Europa League victors Manchester United.
The teams will be managed by two equal giants, Madrid by Zidane and United by Madrid’s former manager Jose Mourinho. With those two at the helm it’s sure to be as much as a technical battle in the dugout as it is on the pitch.
It will be a real test for United, their first competitive game against a Champions League level club since their early exit in 2015. Mourinho’s men have struggled in the league, finishing a disappointing 6th place last season, but they’ll want to start the new season the same way they finished the last- with some silverware in hand.
Mourinho may have lifted the Europa league and League Cup last season, but despite leading Inter Milan and Porto to three different European Trophies, the Super Cup remains one of the only major European trophies to evade his hands - he’ll be hoping to change this.
Madrid, on the other hand, have had a poor pre-season, losing to both Man City and Barcelona. The European champions will be hoping to send a message to their domestic rivals to let them know they’re back in the game. With La Liga starting again in a week or so, the momentum will be welcomed.
And of course, no game would be complete without Cristiano Ronaldo dominating headlines both on and off the pitch. He faces his former club amongst increasing speculation that he’s due a move back there.
What time does it start and where can I watch it?
You can catch Manchester United vs Real Madrid on BT Sport 2 this Tuesday, with kick off being at 19:45 and coverage starting at 19:00.
It’s a big game for...
Zinedine Zidane. The Real Madrid manager doesn’t often grab headlines and his former teammates noted him to be a man of few words, but Zidane is rapidly making a name for himself as one of the best in the game. Already having a Super Cup, 2 Champions Leagues and a La Liga title under his belt, he’ll be looking to add another one to that Super Cup tally.
Best stat…
8 - The amount of years since Madrid have lost to an English club. 4-0 to Liverpool.
Remember when…
Not long ago United and Madrid met in a pre-season friendly. A lacklustre game which was summed up by possibly the worst penalty shootout you will ever see. Take a watch…
Player to watch…
Romelu Lukaku. United’s headline summer signing has had a good pre-season, bagging 3 goals in 6 games. This will be his first test as a player against a top class European club and with that huge price tag over his head he’ll be keen to show the fans where their money is going.
Past three-meetings…
United 1 (Ramos OG) Real Madrid 2 (Modric, Ronaldo), Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg, March 2013
United 1 (Welbeck) Real Madrid 1, (Ronaldo), Champions League Round of 16, First Leg, February 2013
United 4 (Beckham 2, Helguera OG, Van Nistelrooy) Real Madrid 3 (Ronaldo 3), Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg, April 2003
Form guide…
Manchester United: LDLDWW
Real Madrid: WLWWWW
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 11/4
Real Madrid to win: 1/1
Draw:5/2
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
The big news from Real Madrid is that Gareth Bale has been named in Zinedine Zidane's starting XI. The Welshman has once again been linked with a move to United but his inclusion in tonight's side is surely an indicator that the player isn't going anywhere this summer (famous last words...).
The big question for tonight's game: will Jose Mourinho count this as a major trophy should United win? Given his after the Europa League final last season, in which he told his players and staff to stick three fingers up to signify their trophy count, you certainly wouldn't bet against it.
'Haterz gonna hate'
Another player to keep a watch out for tonight is Nemanja Matic. The Serbian has been handed his competitive debut as he looks to cement a place in Jose Mourinho's starting XI for the new season.
Speaking on BT Sport just know, Paul Scholes admitted that he was surprised by Chelsea's decision to sell the midfielder given the role he played in the side's title-winning season.
"I really like the Matic signing," he said. "That was the one that surprised me a little bit. It made you wonder why did Chelsea sell him?
“He brings aggression to United’s midfield which is something I think they have been lacking.
“I think he’s very similar in a way to Michael Carrick in a controlling midfielder, but what he brings what Michael doesn’t bring is a little bit of aggression which as I say he gets to the ball, he tackles, he allows other people to play.
“I think you saw that with Chelsea last year when Kante were magnificent together last year and that allowed Hazard and Fabregas and whoever else was playing that bit of freedom.
“I’m hoping he’ll do that with United."
A reminder that tonight's game is being held at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia. The stadium, which has a capacity of 33,460, is holding its first major European showpiece this evening.
And the prize for the most awkward photo of the night goes to this pair. Kudos...
Okay, I'll stop joshing about. We're five minutes from kick-off folks, stay tuned!
1 min: United test their opponent's backline with a long, searching ball over the top that Lukaku rushes to meet. It takes an awkward bounce near the right-hand side of Navas' box which the striker jumps to meet... but the Real Madrid keeper manages to get his hands to it to cut the attack dead.
2 min: Chance for Madrid! Bale meets a high ball in the United box and, despite pressure from Matic, manages to stick out a searching leg that makes connection with the delivery. It's off target though and sails past De Gea's right-hand side post.
6 min: Pogba shows his class with a fine bit of trickery just inside Real's half near the left-hand touchline. He brings down a De Gea goal kick with an exquisite first touch which is followed by a rapid step-over before releasing Lingard to the right ahead of him. The forward surges towards the Real box but is quickly closed down. Encouraging stuff from United.
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