Real Madrid beats Manchester United to defend crown in UEFA Super Cup

Make that four conquests of the UEFA Super Cup for Real Madrid.

On Tuesday night at Philip II Arena in Macedonia, Real Madrid held the throne in the UEFA Super Cup by defeating Manchester United 2-1. Los Blancos are the first club to win the game in successive years since AC Milan accomplished the feat in 1989 and 1990.

The result was deserved for Real Madrid, which played most of the match at a higher gear than United. Los Blancos were relentless in their pressure through the first half, and Casemiro scored the goal that had been a long time coming, calculating a run into the Red Devils’ penalty area before one-timing the ball past David De Gea. The Brazilian midfielder was borderline offside, but complaints fell upon deaf ears.

It was much of the same in the second half. Real Madrid was rewarded for its pressure once again when Karim Benzema played the ball to Isco, who played a give-and-go with Gareth Bale and proceeded to beat De Gea. United pulled a goal back minutes later courtesy of Romelu Lukaku’s first competitive goal for the Red Devils, but it was all in vain. Seven minutes of second-half stoppage time – the result of Marouane Fellaini being treated on the pitch – provided no equaliser.

At the end of the game, Jose Mourinho was seen congratulating Real Madrid’s players individually and giving Cristiano Ronaldo, who came on for Benzema in the 83rd minute, a friendly pat.