Hero and villain
Ronaldo scores and sees red as Real roll over Barcelona
BARCELONA: Cristiano Ronaldo scored and was sent off as Real Madrid beat a Barcelona side missing Neymar by winning 3-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
Ronaldo, only introduced as a second-half substitute, was shown two quickfire yellow cards after blasting Real into a 2-1 lead with 10 minutes to go.
However, Real extended their advantage with 10 men thanks to a sumptuous late strike from Marco Asensio.
Earlier, Lionel Messi’s penalty had cancelled out Gerard Pique’s own goal as Barca failed to get the early season boost they needed from Neymar’s departure for Paris St Germain.
The sides meet again in Madrid for the second-leg tomorrow.
“I am proud of the players because even with 10 men they played great,” said Real boss Zinedine Zidane.
The World Player of the Year was booked for taking off his shirt in celebration after scoring and just two minutes later saw a second yellow card when referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea adjudged he had dived in attempting to win a penalty.
However, Ronaldo could be in more trouble as he pushed the referee in the back after being shown the 10th red card of his career.
“He didn’t feign anything at any moment,” protested Real captain Sergio Ramos.
“You have to appeal because to send off a key player with 10 minutes to go in a Clasico (the referee) had to evaluate the situation in a different way.”
Without Neymar, Barca struggled to find their rhythm going forward as Gerard Deulofeu failed to impress in the role alongside Messi and Luis Suarez up front.
“It’s a very adverse result and we have to accept that they are the favourites now,” admitted new Barca boss Ernesto Valverde as his reign started in disappointment.
“But we need to play the second game. Everything doesn’t just come to an end after one defeat.”