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Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (agg 2-1): Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez fail to fire as quickfire Mario Mandzukic secures Spanish Super Cup for Diego Simeone
- Mandzukic scored the winner for Atletico after just 80 seconds at Vicente Calderon
- Sami Khedira went to watch his brother play in Germany and Angel Di Maria was left out
- Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench in second-half but could not prevent Real losing
Real Madrid’s noisy neighbours were at it again in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Spanish capital. Last season Diego Simeone’s side pipped Real Madrid to the La Liga title, now they have beaten them in the Spanish Super Cup.
Money might buy a club the best players from the last World Cup but Atletico Madrid’s motivation and organisation continues to be absolutely priceless and it was too much for Carlo Ancelotti’s confused European Champions who were behind after 80 seconds and never found a way back.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Diego Simeone get sent to the stands for patting the linesman on the back of the head
Clinical: Atletico Madrid's Mario Mandzukic makes it 1-0 against Real Madrid in the second leg match of the Spanish Super Cup
Goal hero: Atletico striker Mario Mandzukic lifts the Super Cup trophy after beating Real Madrid on Friday
Glory boys: Atletico have started the season as they ended the last, by eclipsing their illustrious neighbours and picking up a trophy
With the league season due to start this weekend all is not as it should be for Ancelotti.
Midfielder Sami Khedira went to watch his brother play in Germany, Angel Di Maria was left out of the squad completely and Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench not fit to start.
With no Ronaldo or Di Maria the onus was very much on Bale who has been Real Madrid’s best player in pre-season but before the Welshman could have an impact a defence strangely missing the benched Pepe was embarrassed by Atletico’s first attack.
Their big summer signings Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic must find the goals that Diego Costa scored last season – the hope is that the Croatian will hold the ball up and the Frenchman will feed off him but it was the other way around inside two minutes and Atletico Madrid were in front courtesy of Mandzukic’s first goal for the club.
Atletico’s incredible knack of replacing the strikers they are forced to sell has seen them go from Diego Forlan to Sergio Agüero and Radamel Falcao to Diego Costa.
Mandzukic has started well with a goal against the old enemy that wins a Cup final.
Delight: Atletico's Mario Mandzukic (centre) celebrates his second-minute strike against Real Madrid at Vicente Calderon on Friday
Real Madrid forced their first corner and from it Luka Modric sent a shot over and they were then given a brief one-man advantage by referee David Fernandez.
Fabio Coentrao clashed with Juanfran and as the Atletico full-back was waiting to come back on after having treatment, James almost equalised for Real with a shot parried by Miguel Moya.
Simeone was fuming at the delay in Juanfran being allowed back onto the pitch and after some figure wagging and a tap on the back of the fourth official’s head he was sent off.
It is hard to think of another coach in world football at the moment who has the same communion with his supporters and the dismissal only increased the volume in the Calderon.
Best of enemies: Atletico coach Diego Simeone (right) greets his Real Madrid counterpart Carlo Ancelotti (left) before the match
On the ball: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid takes on Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon on Friday
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