Super Cup:- Real Madrid vs Barcelona 3-1 Ronaldo scores victor goal

Ronaldo gave the arbitrator a push in the back in the wake of seeing the red card. And the fact there are two in four days is pretty much the ideal way to start the campaign.

His yellow-card tackle on Messi in the opening half was rough, but it was needed at the time – it laid down a marker that Barcelona were not going to be able to pass the ball around and monopolize possession as they normally like to do.

Tackling a Barcelona team shorn of Neymar’s talents would certainly seem to be an easier prospect than one with him, but Zidane cautioned against taking anything for granted. Several weeks ago this team beat Real 3-2 in the El Clasico played in Miami.

The Spanish season kicks off with a bang as Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid in a two-legged Super Cup tie.

“I always say the Champions League is one thing and the Europa League is another, and the Champions League victor obviously has a different potential”, said former Real coach Mourinho, whose team are back in Europe’s elite club competition this season.

“However, we can not change that, even if we’ll try to have him available for Wednesday”.

But, with Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele being chased by Barca, Valverde did say that the club will work hard until the end of the month in their attempts to improve the squad.

Real Madrid won the domestic championship last season and also prevailed in the Champions League.

Incredibly, Zinedine Zidane is once again favourite to bag another trophy, which would be his seventh as a manager.

Real appeared to brush the cobwebs of pre-season off themselves as they defeated the Premier League giants, always menacing in attack as they calved through midfield.

He sends out a message, alongside Sergio Ramos, that Los Blancos are not to be messed with.

Anyone care to predict a first leg score? This is likely due to Turan’s imminent move to Galatasaray.

Rafinha is out injured for Barcelona but summer arrivals Gerard Deulofeu and Nelson Semedo are available.

It promises to be a mouthwatering clash across at least 180 minutes of football, and with that in mind, we have picked out five things to look out for in the Spanish Super Cup…

The second leg will be at the Santiago Bernabeu on August 16.

As Barcelona and Real Madrid came out for the first leg of the El Clasico Super Cup, one football fans turned his back to the camera showing a shirt sporting both club’s colours. Substitutes: Cristiano Ronaldo (for Benzema 58) 6, Marco Asensio (for Kovacic 68) 7, Lucas Vazquez (for Bale 81) 6.

Yet, Barca’s poor record in the transfer market in recent years was exposed once more when Asensio blasted home as the game entered stoppage time.