Real Madrid can use Supercopa triumph as springboard to historic season

18 months; to supporters of maximum clubs, that's a very suited time frame to attend among lifting trophies.

For Real Madrid, however, 18 long months is a horrifying quantity of time to now not be crowned champions of a few form of competition - as Steve McManaman mentioned on BT Sport's observation of the game:

"When there's silverware up for grabs, you're simply anticipated to win it while you put on that white package of Real Madrid."

But it's how long Los Blancos needed to wait between lifting the La Liga title in July 2020 and sooner or later getting their arms on a piece of silverware once more by means of beating Athletic Club 2-0 in Sunday night's Supercopa very last.

As predicted, it turned into a reasonably turgid affair with a dominant Blancos slowly sporting their competition right down to the factor of submission, earlier than a resurgence from a trailing Bilbao almost paid off. As it turned out, but, Real had been surely too properly - as they had been for almost all of the 2021/22 season.

It took a sensational finish from Luka Modric, a thumping Karim Benzema penalty - each seven mins both aspect of 1/2 time - and Thibaut Courtois' outstanding past due penalty shop to seal the two-zero Supercopa triumph.

Real's twelfth Supercopa name places an cease to a baron spell that they'll all too willingly overlook. The necropolis that changed into the 2020/21 campaign represented the club's first trophy-less season for eleven years, but times have modified and Carlo Ancelotti's vibrant side resembles the Real of vintage - the Real that struck worry into the whole of Europe.

They were sharp, composed and ruthless in all facets of the sport on Sunday night time. From the stoicism of Courtois and the imperative defensive partnership of Eder Militao (who became unfortunate to peer purple overdue on) and David Alaba, to the sheer elegance of the esteemed midfield trio, and from electric powered wing play to the world-elegance imperative domination of Benzema, Real were never going to pass up the opportunity of winning the Supercopa.

With one trophy under their belt already, Los Blancos have the suitable platform upon which to construct this term. Having crushed 8 of the other 9 that presently occupy La Liga's top half in advance within the season (they drew 0-zero with Villarreal), Ancelotti's facet are visibly superior to the chasing % in Spain's top flight.

While they most effective maintain a 5-factor lead at the summit, it seems as even though the La Liga crown is theirs for the taking already. And with contemporary form in thoughts, there are few others able to declare to be as prepared for Champions League glory this season, too.