Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club: Supercopa success for Los Blancos

Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club: Supercopa success for Los Blancos

| EFE

Modric and Benzema scored before Courtois saved a late penalty from Raul Garcia

Real Madrid beat Athletic Club 2-0 in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the Spanish Supercopa for the second time in three years since it became a four-team tournament. 

Luka Modric and Karim Benzema scored the goals and Thibaut Courtois saved a late penalty from Raul Garcia after Eder Militao had been sent off for handling the ball. 

Madrid will hope the trophy is the first of many in 2022. They lead LaLiga and remain alive in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. 

Modric opened the scoring in Riyadh towards the end of the first half. The Croatian fired home expertly from the edge of the box after good work from Rodrygo Goes. 

Benzema wrapped up the win from the penalty spot after a VAR review ruled Yeray Alvarez had handled the ball. 

Athletic were handed a route back into the game with three minutes to play when another VAR review led to a penalty and a red card for Militao, who handled the ball on the line. 

However, Garcia's penalty was brilliantly saved by Coirtois' flailing leg to deny the Basque side any chance of mounting a dramatic late comeback. 

The win completes a good week in Saudi Arabia for Madrid after they beat Barcelona 3-2 after extra time in the semifinal. 

Athletic beat Atletico Madrid to reach the final and now turn their attention to the Copa del Rey, with Barça due at San Mames on Thursday. 

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