It suits Real Madrid well Saudi Arabia. The Whites have yet to lose a game in the Middle East since the Super Cup moved to 2020. This season they beat Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao to take home a winning side that has grown in level by bringing together the best Spanish teams. Below we take stock of the seven conclusions that the Super Cup leaves us:
1) MADRID IS A CHAMELEONIC TEAM
Ancelotti has built a team that is capable of dominating the game with a possession of almost 70% and with the same names defending in a low block, falling back in a very organized way and killing the counterattack. The Whites, thanks to enormous experience and an enviable spirit of sacrifice, have managed to be effective with both records, as they have shown in the Super Cup.
2) MODRIC HAS CHEATED US WITH HIS DNI
How is it possible that a 36-year-old guy dominates Spanish football like that? Modric took the MVP of the Super Cup final after scoring a goal and controlling the tempo of the final. With his feints, his cuts, his explosiveness and other attributes, the Croatian does not lose a ball even by chance. It seems that Luka has rope for a while. Remember the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
3) NICO WILLIAMS KNOCKS ON LUIS ENRIQUE’S DOOR
Fast, cheeky and above all with goalscoring instinct. We are talking about Nico Williams, the sensation of Athletic Bilbao, and that at just 19 years old he has made more than one look at how much his termination clause costs. With a 50 million payment, it would be better for the rojiblanco team to improve it so as not to get a scare. Luis Enrique, a lover of summoning young people, saw it all from the stands. The same is international in March.
4) THE ATHLETIC HAS AN AIR PROBLEM
Simeone’s boys were eliminated by Athletic Bilbao after conceding two goals from set pieces. It is not the first time that this season, the rojiblancos concede a goal so it costs them a title or points. “It is a problem that we cannot hide and we must work on it,” admitted a Simeone who is at his lowest moment as an athletic technician.
5) XAVI NOW DOES BELIEVE
Leading Madrid to extra time had great merit for a Barça that a few weeks ago with Koeman at the helm was a shadow of what it is today. It is true that Xavi Hernández, in addition to giving confidence to his pupils, has been recovering a large number of injured players, highlighting the returns of Pedri and Ansu and the signing of Ferran Torres. There is illusion in the culés.
6) REVALUATED TOURNAMENT
The Super Cup has gone from being a summer nuisance to a mid-season tournament that allows many teams to change their trend. The high level that exists when four teams are measured in the ‘Final Four’ format allows all the stars to be present and in an optimal point of form, unlike what happened in the past. The only bad thing is that there are few Spanish fans in the stands.
7) ARABIA IS A MADRIDISTA
Real Madrid filled the Rey Fahd stadium the two days it played by hanging the sign that there are no tickets. It must be remembered that the restriction was 50% as a measure against Covid. The whites were able to listen to a field sing various emblems as if they were at the Bernabéu and many enjoyed seeing Benzema and Florentino dressed up as ‘sheikhs’ by the local fans.