Real Madrid win Supercopa, Man United in turmoil, Lewandowski’s latest hat trick: Weekend Review

There were mixed fortunes for some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the weekend, with Real Madrid claiming silverware and Manchester United enduring more issues on and off the pitch. Meanwhile, there was controversy in the Copa del Rey and wins that moved Manchester City and Bayern Munich closer to title triumphs.

Here are Mark Ogden, Alex Kirkland and Andrew Cesare Richardson with what you need to know from around Europe.

Go to: Talking points | Top goals | Troubled teams | Weekend MVP

Four talking points

Real Madrid claim Supercopa glory

Yes, it’s only the Spanish Supercopa and more trophies will be required come the end of the season to consider the campaign a success — this is Real Madrid after all — but Carlo Ancelotti deserves credit for building a serious team that plays to its strengths and, more often than not, gets the job done.

The 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in Sunday’s Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia was relatively uneventful and the players who did the most to deliver the trophy were also unsurprising. Luka Modric and Karim Benzema got the goals, and just to be sure, Thibaut Courtois saved a late penalty conceded by Eder Militao, who was sent off for handball.

Athletic are a potentially awkward opponent, expertly drilled by coach Marcelino, but the team that surprised Atletico Madrid with a second-half semifinal comeback never looked close to causing another upset.

Modric felt like a fitting choice as the final’s MVP after finishing off a lethal end-to-end team move, all quick passes and smart decisions, to put Madrid ahead in the 38th minute. Remarkably, it was his first goal of a season in which he has been denied numerous times by the woodwork.

Benzema doubled the lead from the spot, but by the final whistle, it was Courtois who caught the eye with a penalty stop that defied physics, throwing himself to his right while simultaneously lifting a leg high to his left to keep out Raul Garcia’s shot. — Kirkland