Real Madrid Beat Atletico Madrid On Penalties To Win Spanish Super Cup
Thibaut Courtois proved the hero on Sunday as Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid in a penalty shoot-out in Saudi Arabia to win their 11th Spanish Super Cup. Courtois and Jan Oblak were both imperious during a goalless final in Jeddah but the Belgian came up trumps, saving Thomas Partey’s penalty after Saul Niguez had already hit the post.
“I went through their takers on the bench,” said Courtois. “Saul’s surprised me but Thomas’ I read, and he’s got a very hard shot.” Atletico might have won it in extra-time when Alvaro Morata went through one-on-one but Real’s Federico Valverde took a red card in exchange for cynically fouling the striker from behind.
“It was something you shouldn’t do and I apologised to Alvaro but it was the only option I had left,” said Valverde.
“It was the most important moment of the match,” added Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
“If he had gone through it was a goal but I told him that anyone would have done the same in his position.”
Victory maintains Zinedine Zidane’s spotless record as a coach in finals.
He has now led Madrid to success three times in the Champions League, and two each in the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and now Spanish Super Cup.
“I have won many things as a player and now as a coach,” said Zidane.
“But I congratulate the players. You can achieve anything if you work hard enough.”
