Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United, UEFA Super Cup RESULT: Romelu Lukaku debut goal not enough as European champions claim victory

  • Casemiro opened scoring for Real Madrid in debatable offside call
  • Isco doubled the lead after the break for the European champions
  • Romelu Lukaku pulled goal back just after the hour on Manchester United debut
  • Real Madrid starting XI: Navas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Bale (Asensio), Casemiro, Isco (Lucas), Benzema (Ronaldo)
  • Manchester United starting XI: De Gea, Lindelof, Darmian, Smalling, Pogba, Lingard (Rashford), Ander Herrera (Fellaini), Mkhitaryan, Valencia, Matic, Lukaku
  • Competition pits together Champions League and UEFA Cup winners
  • United hand debuts to Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic
  • READ: The full match report from the Philip II Arena 

Real Madrid and Manchester United may be two of the most star studded teams in Europe but it was the unsung heroes who won the game for the Champions League winners.

Casemiro, an unheralded holding midfielder, got the first with Isco getting the decisive second. Isco was the best player on the park during his time and United were able to make more of a game of it after his withdrawal.

Romelu Lukaku scored before Isco was replaced and the Red Devils had chances to level as they rallied in the last 30 minutes but could not find a second.


READ: The full match report from the Philip II Arena

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

21:58
Sergio Ramos lifts the Super Cup trophy for Real Madrid

And how many more trophies will we see this team lift this season? You'be be a brave man to bet against Real Madrid this term, so can they become the first team to win the Champions League three years running since Bayern Munich in the 1970s?

That's all from me here this evening. Thanks for following all and cheerio.

21:53
Jose Mourinho collects his runners-up medal...

...and in barely two steps after collecting his runners-up medal on the on-pitch podium, he takes it off again - as do many United players.

Even in a minor competition such as the Super Cup, losing still hurts.

21:48
From OptaJoe
21:47
Manchester United come up short despite offering fightback

With an hour gone Manchester United looked dead and buried but the Red Devils soon pulled a goal back and made a game of it.

Real Madrid are still good value for their victory though and Jose Mourinho has work to do to make this team more competitive once the Champions League returns. They are not a million miles away though.

21:45
From GracenoteLive
21:42
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United

Real Madrid win the UEFA Super Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid is greeted by team-mate Luka Modric at the Philip II Arena
21:41

90+7min: ...and it's hit miles off target. Given it's his first game back we can let him off for that.

21:40

90+6min: Real Madrid have the ball where they want it as they win a free-kick 25 yards out after Valencia chops down Ronaldo in the centre of the park. Up steps Cristiano...

21:38

90+4min: Madrid are just three minutes away from being the first side to defend the Super Cup since AC Milan in 1990 as Rashford is booked for hacking down Lucas on the counter attack.

Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (centre) jumps along with Real Madrid's Raphael Varane
21:36

90+1min: There will be seven minutes added on following the treatment for Fellaini and the drinks break.

It's Fellaini who nearly scores at the back post with a header following an Antonio Valencia cross, only for Navas to make a smart stop.

De Gea's save at the other end is better though after Asensio's effort from a Lucas cut-back is well tipped over.

21:34

89min: A minute to go and United are still chasing down an equaliser to force extra time. The final ball hasn't really been there this evening for Jose Mourinho's side as Real Madrid take a step closer to defending the trophy they won last year.

21:30

86min: United's pressure is increasing as Ramos is booked for obstructing Pogba on the flank.

Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (left) clashed heads with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos
Fellaini is treated for cuts to the face following his clash with Ramos
21:29

85min: Rashford stands over the ball but his effort to try and put topspin on it ends poorly as he fires way over the bar. It was worth a go though, Navas has looked very dodgy with his handling this evening.

21:28

84min: Free-kick to United 30 yards out as Dani Carvajal is booked following an attempt to pull the shirt of Rashford. Considering it was off the ball, that is a brilliant spot from the official.

21:27
Real Madrid substitution

83min: Here is Madrid's final change as a huge cheer greets the arrival for Cristiano Ronaldo as the former Manchester United player replaces Benzema.

21:26

81min: Chance for United! Rashford is released on goal but Navas is quick off his line and tips the striker's bottom corner bound shot just wide.

21:25

80min: The good news is Fellaini, with a bandage around his head - not easy considering his huge hairstyle - is back up and will continue.

21:22

78min: Although the concern looks more to be for Fellaini. Ramos is back up but the Belgian came off worse in the clash of heads and it looks like the collision has resulted in his head being busted open.

Paul Pogba (left) of Manchester United tackles Luka Modric of Real Madrid
21:21

76min: Still United are on top though as Matic's back post cross although finds Fellaini, sees the United midfielder challenged by Sergio Ramos for the ball.

The Real Madrid defender does just enough to force the substitute to head over the bar but it results in both needing treatment following a clash of heads.

Cristiano Ronaldo is getting ready to come on, proving Ramos can get back to his feet unaided I guess.

21:18
Double Real Madrid substitution

73min: A couple of minutes early, and it's another drinks break. This time it's come at the wrong time for Manchester United who are enjoying their best spell of the game.

Madrid are set to make a double change with Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez replacing Isso and Gareth Bale.

21:14

70min: If United can find an equaliser this game would go to extra time, and if needed a penalty shootout - one without the nonsense ABBA system.

Here is how Lukaku opened his Manchester United account:

21:11

67min: That United goal has sparked the Real Madrid substitutes into life, with Cristiano Ronaldo among those now warming up.

Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku scores their first goal after pouncing onto a loose ball
Lukaku celebrates scoring on his Manchester United debut at the Philip II Arena
21:10

65min: That Lukaku strike makes up for his missed sitter from earlier (which you can see below) but can it inspire an unlikely Manchester United fightback.

21:06
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

62min: Romelu Lukaku missed a sitter earlier, but he wasn't missing this one. Nemanja Matic's low shot is poorly parried forward by Navas and it allowed the striker on his Manchester United debut to fire in low and pull a goal back.

21:05

59min: This is getting embarrassing for United now. Bale should make it 3-0 at the back post but on his weaker right foot he hammers a shot against the crossbar.

Here is how Madrid doubled their lead:

21:01
Manchester United substitution

56min: Here comes United's second change as Ander Herrera makes way for Fellaini.

Isco slots home Real Madrid's second goal against Manchester United in the Super Cup
The Real Madrid midfielder celebrates doubling Madrid's lead at the Philip II Arena
21:00

54min: Is this what £75million gets you in the transfer market? Lukaku has been awful tonight and his evening has just got worse by missing an absolute sitter.

Paul Pogba does well to head a cross towards goal, with Keylor Navas parrying the ball in front of him. But with a whole goal at his mercy, Lukaku blasts well over the bar from eight yards out.

20:56
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 Manchester United

52min: Manchester United are being cut to ribbons. This is a slick goal from Real Madrid as Isco and Gareth Bale combine with a one-two inside the box before the former slots home past De Gea.

20:55

51min: It's taken just five second half minutes for Manchester United to start thinking of a second change as Jose Mourinho sends Marouane Fellaini to warm up.

20:53

48min: Super stop from De Gea who leaps to his right to beat away a 25-yard strike from Toni Kroos.

The danger isn't over though as Henrikh Mkhitaryan loses the ball near his own penalty box to allow Marcelo a clear path to goal, only for the full-back's shot to be deflected behind.

20:51

47min: Alert defending from Chris Smalling already who beats Gareth Bale to a near post cross delivered by Karim Benzema to clear.

20:50
SECOND HALF: Real Madrid restart as Manchester United make a change

On comes Marcus Rashford to add some impetus into the United attack as he replaces Jesse Lingard.

Jesse Lingard was replaced at half-time by Manchester United
20:47
And that wasn't a great 45 minutes for Lukaku on his United debut
20:44
So was Casemiro offside for the opening goal?

I thought there was a strong case from the first still replay but it appears Casemiro has a...well...case for being onside looking at this picture.

Don't forget only a part of the body you can score a goal with can be judged to be offside. So what's your call?

More replays seemed to show Casemiro was onside for Real Madrid's opening goal
20:40
Only one team in it so far...

And it isn't Real Madrid. Outside of a Romelu Lukaku header - that didn't really test Keylor Navas - Manchester United have been dominated by a Real Madrid side who have been sparkling.

The European champions' midfield has run the Red Devils ragged and that's without Cristiano Ronaldo.

20:33
HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester United
Referee Gianluca Rocchi books Jesse Lingard of Manchester United during the first half
20:32

45min: Finally a shot on goal for United. Pogba's cross picks out Lukaku who beats Ramos in the air before nodding straight at Navas. There will be two added minutes following that drinks break.

20:29

42min: Jesse Lingard has hardly had a kick in this half and he is forced into frustrated looking tackle to bring down Isco and pick up a booking.

Meanwhile there is a half-chance for Madrid as after Luka Modric brings the ball forward, Krim Benzema picks up the ball before firing in a low shot that is a little too close to De Gea who saves well.

A frustrated Jose Mourinho instructs his Manchester United players during the drinks break
20:25

39min: A bit more positive play from Manchester United now. Antonio Valencia bamboozles Marcelo on the right before his dangerous cross is headed clear. This has been a good 10 minutes or so for the Red Devils.

20:23

36min: Mourinho used the drinks break to rally his troops and it has had a positive effect.

Romelu Lukaku picks out Paul Pogba inside the box, whose low effort is blocked across the penalty box before rolling out to safety.

20:21

33min: Just the two minutes needed it appears as play restarts and United win a free-kick... one that Ander Herrera wastes by overhitting his back post cross out of play.

Casemiro stretches to volley Real Madrid ahead against Manchester United
Casemiro celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game at the Philip II Arena
20:17

30min: And here is the first of the three-minute drinks break. So while the players down some fluids, here is a chance to see Casemiro's opening goal.

20:15

27min: UEFA have said before the game there will be drinks breaks in the 30th and 75th minutes of this game, and United will sure be looking forward to the first of them.

Mourinho's men are chasing shadows right now. They can't get any time on the ball or out their own half right now.

20:09
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 Manchester United

24min: A new season already has an air of controversy surrounding it. It's hard to argue against Real Madrid deserving a lead but the manner in which they get it will annoy Manchester United.

Casemiro looked half-a-yard offside before latching onto a Dani Carvajal ball over the top and steering a neat finish across goal past David de Gea.

Casemiro looked half-a-yard offside before opening the scoring for Real Madrid
20:07

21min: Still no shots on target from Real Madrid as Isco fires well off target from distance but the Spanish side are dominating this game having had 64 per cent of the ball so far. United's defence is not looking all that comfortable either.

Casemiro of Real Madrid saw his header crash against the crossbar from a corner
20:04

18min: Casemiro again goes close, not quite as close as a couple of minutesa go but a clearance falls to the midfielder's feet 20 yards out before he drives well off target.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho instructs his players from the touchline
20:03

16min: Off the bar! Real Madrid go ever so close to taking the lead as a Toni Kroos corner finds Casemiro, whose header clatters off the woodwork before United clear.

20:01

14min: Real Madrid are seeing more of the ball now and are starting to take the game to Manchester United. Gareth Bale especially is looking lively.

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovacic and Cristiano Ronaldo look on from the bench
19:59

11min: This match also sees the clash of the games's biggest grapplers. Chris Smalling and Sergio Ramos are often suspects when it comes to pulling shirts while defending set-pieces so it's no surprise to see both pull each others before going to ground and appealing. Almost comedic.

19:55

8min: It's been a good start from Manchester United. Henrikh Mkhitaryan leads an attack through the centre before darting past Sergio Ramos and going to ground inches outside the box.

United fans want a free-kick but the referee waves play on and having seen a replay it's a smart call as the Armenian clearly dives. I'd say he is lucky not to be booked for that.

Gareth Bale (centre) fired wide with an early chance for Real Madrid in the Super Cup
19:51
From Sportsmail's Jack Gaughan at the Philip II Arena

'Three at the back from Jose tonight then. Lingard will have to put in a real shift down that left hand side.'

19:49

3min: Already a chance for Gareth Bale. Marcelo's deflected cross off Henrikh Mkhitaryan drops high out the air towards Bale and Nemanja Matic, with the former winning the tussle to divert a difficult volley just off target.

19:47
KICK-OFF: Manchester United get the game underway
19:45
Out come the teams at the Philip II Arena

The ground looks pretty full ahead of kick-off, with both the Champions League and Europa League trophies placed pitchside.

Those two pieces of silverware are just admission tickets tonight though, this is all about the Super Cup trophy.

19:41
It's a one-off match but there is still an opening ceremony...
19:39
There are three debuts for Manchester United this evening

And they are from all over the pitch. Victor Lindelof lines up in the back four, Nemanja Matic holds the midfield and Romelu Lukaku leads the attack.

Romelu Lukaku (left) of Manchester United and Victor Lindelof make their debuts for the club
Nemanja Matic (centre right) also makes his debut following his arrival from Chelsea
19:36
Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United's season starts here

'Normally next week in Premier League is the start but we have an amazing chance to play the champions of Europe and to discuss a title so we go for it.' Mourinho told BT Sport.

'I'd prefer to give Victor Lindelof more time [to settle] but we have been forced by suspension and injury.

'Heat and humidity effects both but I don't think its a huge problem because pre-season was in the US and temperatures were high and we have to cope with it. We are professionals, we have to play until our limits and we are ready for that.'

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho looks on before the Super Cup final
19:26
From Sportsmail's Jack Gaughan at the Philip II Arena

'Pierluigi Collina has just had a lengthy discussion with Jose Mourinho... would've liked to have listened into that!'

19:25
It's going to be a warm one in Skopje this evening...

So those of you hoping for a fast paced match may be in for a disappointment. The game may be kicking off at 9.45pm local time but temperatures are still hovering around 30 degrees celsius.

To put that into perspective, UEFA have sanctioned a drinks break should temperatures go up just by a couple of degrees, and that's before you factor the very humid conditions.

Temperatures at the Philip II Arena reached highs of 40 degrees Celsius during the day
19:21
Gareth Bale has been busy warming up ahead of his inclusion

After an injury hit 2016-17 campaign this is a big season coming up for the winger, but which shirt will it be in.

His inclusion tonight suggests he has at least another year at the Bernabeu, but Manchester United are keeping tabs on the former Tottenham star's availability. 

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid shows appreciation to the fans as he warms up prior to starting
Sergio Ramos practises with a football during the warm up at the Philip II Arena
19:10

CHRIS WHEELER: Manchester United have appealed against the European ban that has ruled Phil Jones out of the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid.

Jones was hit with a two-match suspension for verbally abusing a doping control officer after United's Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm in May.

Read more here

Manchester United's Phil Jones trains on the eve of the Super Cup clash in Skopje
19:01
Here is the full confirmation of the line-ups in Skopje

Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Marcelo,
Kroos, Modric, Bale, Casemiro, Isco, Benzema.
Subs: Casilla,
Nacho, Ronaldo, Hernandez, Kovacic, Lucas, Asensio.

Manchester United: De Gea, Lindelof, Darmian, Smalling, Pogba, Lingard,
Ander Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Valencia, Matic, Lukaku.
Subs: Romero, Mata, Martial, Carrick, Blind, Rashford, Fellaini.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Firenze)

The sun sets in Skopje ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final
18:58
Real Madrid will be playing in their change strip this evening
Real Madrid's changing room at the Philip II Arena has been decorated in the team's branding
The Champions League holders will feature in their change strip for the clash
The Real Madrid pennant is seen prior to the UEFA Super Cup final
Manchester United jerseys hang inside their changing room at the Philip II Arena
United will be hoping to win their second Super Cup in their history
The Manchester United pennant is seen prior to the UEFA Super Cup final
18:51
Cristiano Ronaldo will feature from the bench for United

And he is lucky to even be starting there given he could have picked up a bizarre injury just getting off the team bus earlier today...

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo waves as he inspects the Philip II Arena turf
Ronaldo will start on the bench for Real Madrid as he works his way back to match fitness
18:44
From Sportsmail's Jack Gaughan at the Philip II Arena

"Ander Herrera - he's not Spanish, he is Basque" is proudly fluttering in the light wind in one corner of this ground. He starts and so too does Nemanja Matic. Games like this might just be a touch too quick for Michael Carrick this season.

18:42
Real Madrid starting XI
18:42
Manchester United starting XI
18:36

PETE SOUTH: Manchester United will play in their fourth Super Cup on Tuesday as they take on Champions League winners Real Madrid in Skopje.

The Europa League winners are looking for their second title after beating Red Star Belgrade to lift the cup back in 1991 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

But how did the Super Cup come into existence? Why is it now a one-legged game when previously it was two legs? And how come it was held in Monaco for 14 years? Sportsmail answers all your here.

18:30
It's a long trek for United to now go home empty handed

This year's final is being played inside the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Macedonia. Renovated in 2011 it's a nice little ground but I'm not sure a 33,000 capacity is big enough for a clash between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The Philip II Arena will host Real Madrid v Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup
The match sees the Champions League and Europa League winners come face-to-face
The UEFA Super Cup trophy sits pitchside inside the 33,000 stadium
18:20
Manchester United supporters are already gearing up for the clash
Manchester United fans congregrate ahead of the UEFA Super Cup match in Skopje
United will hope to see their side defeat Real Madrid to win their fourth trophy in a year
18:17
It's just over a year since Mourinho collected his first Man Utd silverware

And tonight the Manchester United manager will be looking to lift his fourth pot following triumphs in the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League as his side take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

So good evening all and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of all the action as it happens.

Manchester United face their final pre-season test before the start of the Premier League campaign when they take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

The minor trophy, which is competed annually between the Champions League and UEFA Cup winners, pits two of the biggest clubs in the world against each other at the Philip II Arena in Skopje.

The Red Devils are looking to win their fourth honour under Jose Mourinho who is set to hand full debuts to the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof. Follow all the action here as it happens.

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