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)
36 min: United burst forward and it's Lingard who leads the charge. He finds himself confronted by a number of black shirts on the edge of Real's box but someone manages to hold onto possession as he fumbles his way past the opposition. Play eventually falls to Lukaku, who encounters the same issue, before the Belgian sets up Pogba to his left. The Frenchman tries to curl one in to the right-hand side corner but his effort is blocked. Madrid take back possession.
40 min: Five minutes until the break but United are still struggling to break down their opponents' back line. Valencia manages to whip in a ball from the right after surging down the flank but his delivery is comfortably dealt with by Varane.
42 min: Lingard is shown yellow for a late challenge on Isco. The first card of the game.
43 min: Benzema with a close-range effort on goal but De Gea gets down to his right to palm the shot away, despite seeing it late.
45 min: Pogba picks out Lukaku with a well-placed delivery from the left flank which the Belgian meets with his head after winning his aerial tussle with Ramos. It's a tame effort, though, and lands firmly in the hands of Navas.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
It's been a fairly comprehensive display from the European champions who have dominated possession and the run of play. United's chances have been few and far between, with Lukaku and Co struggling to get any genuine shots off on goal. At least Jose Mourinho's men won't have to face a side like this in the Premier League...
45 min: And that's the whistle! The second half is under way! Marcus Rashford replaces Jesse Lingard.
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