Spanish Super Cup Showdown Between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Taking place in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 10, Real Madrid’s 5-3 victory against Atlético Madrid would prove to be an enthralling game with plenty of goals and action.
The action started early, with center back Mario Hermoso scoring from a corner to make it 1-0 Atlético Madrid. Not even 15 minutes later, Real Madrid would grow into the game though, and would make it 2-1 with goals from defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy.
Atlético would claw back into the game with a moment of brilliant individual skill from striker Antoine Griezmann to make the game 2-2. With this goal, Griezmann would become Atlético Madrid’s top goal scorer with 174 goals.
Real Madrid would dominate to start the second half, with Atlético doing well to absorb the pressure and limit Real Madrid’s chances.
Then, a howler from Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, would lead to a goal for Atlético. Arrizabalaga tried to catch a ball in the air as striker Alvaro Morata went up to head the ball. Unfortunately for Arrizabalaga, he did not catch the ball, with the ball bouncing off Rüdiger before going into the net. Arrizabalaga tried to argue that there was a foul, but the referee would have none of it and awarded the goal to Atlético Madrid.
In the 85th minute, right back Dani Carvajal would score off of a rebound to equalize for Real Madrid. Atlético Madrid did well to block the initial shots, but Carvajal would not be denied.
Both sides would exchange chances in stoppage time with Griezmann being denied by a decent diving save from Arrizabalaga and midfielder Brahim Díaz firing his shot just wide of the far post.
The 90 minutes plus stoppage time would finish 3-3, leading to the game going to extra time.
Extra time would begin just as the second half began, with Real Madrid applying pressure and Atlético Madrid absorbing the pressure.
The breakthrough would come in the 116th minute with a goal from striker Joselu. Carvajal would provide an exceptional cross that Joselu headed into the goal. There was some debate about whether Joselu scored it or whether it was an own goal from center back Stefan Savic, but the goal was ultimately given to Joselu.
Brahim Díaz would then beat the out of position goalkeeper Jan Oblak in a foot race to score a hockey-esque empty net goal in the dying minutes to push Real Madrid to a 5-3 win.
Real Madrid will face the winner of the other semi-final game between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
