A delightful goal by Isco proved the difference as Real Madrid survived a Manchester United fight back to win 2-1 and lift the UEFA Super Cup in the Macedonian capital of Skopje on Tuesday.
Casemiro put the reigning European champions in front on 24 minutes and Isco doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half after a one-two with Gareth Bale. The gulf in class between Madrid -- for whom Cristiano Ronaldo appeared as a late substitute -- and Europa League winners United that Jose Mourinho had feared was all too evident and it looked like the Spaniards would go on to win by a wider margin.
But Romelu Lukaku pulled one back just past the hour, making his competitive debut for United with a goal and sparking a big improvement from the Premier League club in the final stages. It was to no avail, with Zinedine Zidane's side winning this trophy for the second year running and the fourth time overall.
It is the eighth time in nine years that a Spanish club has won the Super Cup. Bale handed start While Ronaldo started on the bench for Madrid having only commenced pre-season training at the weekend, Bale was included in the line-up.
United boss Mourinho caused a stir on Monday when he claimed he would make a bid to take the Welshman to Old Trafford if he were not a starter at the Philip II Arena. Despite the presence of £75 million ($97 million) signing Lukaku up front, with Paul Pogba behind, United gave the impression that they could do with some extra inspiration in the final third.
Having missed much of last season's run-in due to injury, Bale is fit again and played the, crushing all the rumour surrounding the Welsh superstar.