Jeddah: Real Madrid stormed into the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday with a dominating 3-1 victory over Valencia in Jeddah. The trio of Toni Kroos, Isco and Luka Modric all scored for the Madrid-based team while Dani Parejo scored a penalty for Valencia.
The Blancos, who qualified for this expanded four-team tournament by virtue of their third-place finish in the 2018-2019 La Liga, showed the strides they have made since these squads' hard-fought draw three weeks ago in Spanish-league action at Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday night in Valencia, reports a leading news agency.
With wingers Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale and striker Karim Benzema all unavailable due to injury, head coach Zinedine Zidane opted for a midfielder-heavy line-up featuring Casemiro, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
The move proved to be a master-stroke, as Real Madrid dominated possession and put Valencia on their heels from the outset.
Valencia, who booked their place in the tournament by winning last season's Copa del Rey, also contributed to their troubles with defensive blunders and an apparent lack of concentration.
A prime example was the opening goal of the match, when Kroos saw that Valencia goalie Jaume was out of position and fired a curling corner kick that the scrambling net minder was unable to keep from going over the line in minute 16.
Although Real Madrid was clearly the better side over the first half-hour, the two teams still could have been locked at 1-1 had Kevin Gameiro not failed to convert a golden opportunity in the 28th minute on a shot that sailed over the crossbar.