Atletico Madrid have won the 2018 UEFA Super Cup courtesy of an extra-time 4-2 victory over city rivals Real Madrid in Tallinn this evening.
The first ever Super Cup final between two teams from the same city saw twists and turns galore, but ultimately it was Europa League winners Atletico who came out on top as Julen Lopetegui's first match in charge of Real ended in defeat.
Atletico took the lead inside the very first minute through a fine solo effort from Diego Costa, but Karim Benzema levelled things up before half time and Sergio Ramos scored from the spot to put Real in front shortly after the hour mark.
Costa doubled his personal tally 11 minutes from time to force extra time, though, and strikes from Saul Niguez and Koke in the first period of the additional 30 saw Atletico win the trophy for a third time in their history.
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Real went into the match off the back of a summer which saw them lose two of the biggest figures in the club's history, and the post-Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo era could not have got off to a worse start with Atletico taking the lead after only 49 seconds.
Costa flicked a long ball forward to himself, shrugging off Ramos and powering past Raphael Varane before thumping a thunderbolt past Keylor Navas at the front post from what looked like an impossible angle.
It was the fastest goal in UEFA Super Cup history, and also raised immediate questions over Navas at his near post with summer signing Thibaut Courtois watching on from the stands.
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The reputation of Atletico keeper Jan Oblak remains firmly intact, though, and the Slovenia international showed why with a smart save to deny Marco Asensio's clever flick from inside the area after 18 minutes.
Real began to grow into the game after their slow start, and Marcelo lashed one long-range strike over the crossbar before they levelled things up through Benzema, although Gareth Bale was the architect of the equaliser.
Charged with a bigger role in the team following Ronaldo's exit, the Welsh winger burst past one defender before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box which Benzema nodded home from close range for the first goal of the Lopetegui era.
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Suddenly the Champions League holders were very much on top, and they nearly made it two goals in as many minutes when Asensio cut inside from the left flank before curling a low strike inches wide of the far post.
Atletico soon stemmed the tide of momentum, but it was Real who continued to look the most likely to get the game's third goal and Bale tried his luck from range with six minutes remaining of the first half.
It was the familiar figure of Ramos who eventually gave his side the lead, though, with the skipper confidently tucking his penalty into the bottom corner shortly after the hour mark having seen Juanfran correctly punished for a handball.
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The goal added to Ramos's strikes against Atletico in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, and was his fifth overall against Real's city rivals.
Ramos was unsurprisingly involved in a running battle with Costa throughout, and one clash between the Spain teammates even saw Costa inadvertently trample on Ramos's neck, sparking an angry reaction from the Real Madrid skipper.
It was Costa who got the last laugh, though, and he levelled things up with 11 minutes remaining when he tucked home Angel Correa's cutback from inside the six-yard box after a mistake from Marcelo had released Juanfran down the right flank.
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There was almost an even later twist in normal time when Real came pouring forward and Bale clipped a cross into the path of Marcelo, who completely missed the ball with an acrobatic effort in what proved to be the final action of the 90.
Extra time was not ideal for either side with the new La Liga season getting underway this weekend, but it was Real that looked the fresher of the two teams in the opening stages and Dani Carvajal forced an early stop from Oblak with a dipping volley from range.
Lopetegui's side shot themselves in the foot moments later, though, giving the ball away in a dangerous area and allowing Costa and Thomas Partey to combine to find Niguez. The midfielder still had plenty to do, but he connected with his first-time volley perfectly and sent it flying into the top corner past a helpless Navas.
Atletico's fourth arrived just six minutes later as they took the game away from Real in the first period of extra time, with Koke adding the finishing touch to a slick team move which saw Costa and Vitolo both involved in the buildup.
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Real never once conceded four goals in a game under Zidane, and with Ronaldo no longer in their ranks either they struggled to find a way back into the match, with a low Luka Modric strike six minutes from time the best sight of goal they could create in the additional period.
Atletico saw out the closing stages with manager Diego Simeone roaring them on from the stands courtesy of his ongoing touchline ban, and the final whistle was greeted by wild scenes of celebration as La Rojiblancos recorded their first ever European final victory over Real, maintaining their 100% Super Cup record in the process.
Atletico will now turn their attention to their La Liga opener away to Valencia on Monday, while Real take on Getafe at home on Sunday.
REAL MADRID (4-2-3-1): Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro (Ceballos 76'), Kroos (Mayoral 102'), Bale, Isco (Vazquez 83'), Asensio (Modric 57'); Benzema
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godin, Hernandez; Lemar (Partey 91'), Niguez, Rodri (Vitolo 105'), Koke; Costa (Gimenez 109'), Griezmann (Correa 57')
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