This time, Real Madrid's Christian Ronaldo was sent off for taking his shirt off (1 yellow = 1 match ban) and pushing the referee (1 red = 4 matches) = 5 match ban! The next leg is on the 16th August at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barca must be favourites???
The Spanish Supercopa (the "final") was first played in 1982 and is a two legged affair.
This year, Barcelona qualify as holders of the Copa del Rey, His Majesty's the King's Cup, which was first played for in 1903. The winner of this trophy goes automatically to the Europa League. It is the club's 29th Cup victory and they have had 10 runners-up spots. Real Madrid have 19 wins and 20 r-u, Athletico Bilbao 23-14. It tends to be dominated by these three.
Teams from the Segunda B (second div) and Tercera (3rd) play in the First Round. The next two rounds are for those early winners and the Segunda A clubs. The Round of 32 is when things hot up and introduces the La Liga clubs who contest through to the final.
Barca's opposition in the Supercopa are Real Madrid, the La Liga Champions. To win the title is a mere matter of playing all the other 19 La Liga clubs home and away through the season. Since 1929, Real Madrid have won the Championship 33 times and been runners up 23 times. Barca have won 24 times, including the first one ever, and come second 25.
In Italy, the Supercoppa Italiana, was first played for a recently as 1988 and is played between the Serie A Champions (league) and the Coppa Italiana (cup) winners.
The Serie A league champion tends to win this play off. This competition began in 1898 and was originally decided in a single day, contested by teams coming from the north-western region of the country where British and Swiss merchants and other business men had an historic influence on sporting clubs. Three teams from Turin and one from Genoa, played out the original tournament in a day. By 1909 nine teams formed a division and in 1929, two divisions were formed as more clubs joined in.
The Coppa Italiana was first played for in 1922 but then not contested again until 1935-36. Teams from the Serie D, Serie C (Lega Pro) contest the first round, then Serie B teams join in, then the "lower" Serie A teams. By the last 16, the top ranked Serie A teams get to play! So this would be like introducing Manchester City and co. in the 5th Round of the FA Cup without having played any previous rounds!
The holders may wear the "tricolore coccarda" to show their success: Yep seriously!
These "showcase" Supercup matches have been played in two USA cities, Tripoli, Beijing, Doha and at venues of the Serie A winners. Juventus (7 wins and 6 runners up) have dominated the "play off". Milan and Inter come relatively close!
Robbie Keane, during a brief stay in Italy, scored for Inter in their 4-3 defeat to Lazio in 2000. He is the only British player to have scored in this match.
It's only the same as the Community Shield!!
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