Perez, whose side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time on Tuesday to lift its third UEFA Super Cup, said on the club’s official website: “Up until 31 August anything can happen, but we’re really satisfied with the players that we’ve got”. The good thing about tonight is that we knew it was going to be hard, but we never gave up.
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Against Sevilla on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane’s side played without six regular starters, including stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but still beat the Europa League victor in its first competitive match of the season to lift the trophy.
But a foul from Ramos on Vietto with 20 minutes left handed Sevilla the flawless chance to take the lead and Yevhen Konoplyanka slotted home from the penalty spot with aplomb, a minute later. “A goal after the 90th minute and other one in the extra time make us champions”.
Madrid expect to be officially informed of a one-year transfer ban by Federation Internationale de Football Association by the end of this week meaning they will be unable to sign any new players.
With Madrid winning the Champions League and Sevilla winning the Europa, it set the stage for an all-Spanish encounter. In a cup match that has been dominated by Spanish sides in recent years, Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 two years ago before Barcelona also needed added time to prevail 5-4 last year.
“They got ahead in a key part of the game, but we never gave up and Sergio’s goal in the last minute brought us back to life”. “We deserved to win”.
Helping to fill in for a Madrid side that was also missing Toni Kroos from midfield, 20-year-old Asensio staked his claim to a spot with Zidane’s team with an exquisite left-foot shot from outside the area that dipped just in time to squeeze inside the woodwork.
Sevilla, however, held firm and responded through Vazquez, who slotted the ball inside the far post when it fell to him in the area four minutes before halftime. But Zinedine Zidane’s team did include Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata, who featured for Spain at Euro 2016 this summer. The proof was the run in the very last minute of the extra time.
Speaking afterwards, Ramos said: “It’s incredible”.
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Asensio’s 21st minute goal came on his first senior appearance for Madrid.
