2′ Madrid finally have the opportunity to get a foot on the ball. An already lively atmosphere has just turned up a notch.
1′ Godin supplies the assist, but this goal is all Costa’s. Atleti had looked for a couple of early long balls before that one and their tactic quickly paid off.
Diego Costa
Goal
1′ GOAL!! What a start for Atleti! 1-0! Costa beats Ramos to a long ball and chases his own header, rifling the ball past Navas from a tight angle on the right. The ball clips the post on the way in. Sensational.
1′ KICK-OFF: The 2018 UEFA Super Cup final is under way! Atleti get us up and running.
This is the fourth time in the last five years that the Super Cup has been contested by two teams from Spain. Madrid have made six previous appearances (four wins) to Atleti’s two (two wins).
Modric is notably on the Madrid bench amid interest from Inter, while Courtois is not involved. World Cup winners Hernandez, Lemar and Griezmann all start for Atleti, facing France team-mate Varane.
SUBS: Antonio Adan, Alex dos Santos, Filipe Luis, Santiago Arias, Jose Gimenez, Thomas Partey, Gelson Martins, Vitolo, Roberto Olabe, Nikola Kalinic, Angel Correa.
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez; Saul, Koke, Rodri, Thomas Lemar; Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann.
SUBS: Kiko Casilla, Andriy Lunin, Nacho, Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Marcos Llorente, Borja Mayoral, Dani Ceballos, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior, Sergio Reguilon, Javier Sanchez.
REAL MADRID (4-2-3-1): Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Casemiro; Gareth Bale, Isco, Marco Asensio; Karim Benzema.
Courtois knows today’s opponents well, having previously enjoyed a lengthy loan spell with Atleti, but there are new faces in Diego Simeone’s camp, too, including Thomas Lemar. Antoine Griezmann’s stay provides perhaps their biggest boost.
Of course, Lopetegui’s arrival is far from the only big change in the make-up of these two sides ahead of the new season. The former Spain boss replaces Zinedine Zidane, while Cristiano Ronaldo has departed for Juventus. Luka Modric is still on board for now, though, as Thibaut Courtois leads the acquisitions.
The first European trophy of the season is on the line in Tallinn as Julen Lopetegui’s Madrid reign gets started with a derby against local rivals Atleti.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the UEFA Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid!
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D. Godín
Assist