Double challenge in the Super Cup

Real Madrid meets next Wednesday with Eintracht…and with history. Well, he has a challenge before him, that of placing himself as co-leader of the winners of the European Super Cup, equaling Barcelona and Milan. Both have five titles, while the whites have four. The culés are first based on showing up at the event more than anyone else: they have played it nine times, with five wins and four losses. The Italians have been more effective, losing just two from seven attempts. And Madrid have had a bad time in the Super Cup, with three defeats out of seven games. In fact, his last experience was unpleasant: lost 2-4 in Tallinn against Atletiin what was the official start of Lopetegui’s project, which was born crooked and did not last long.

Although Madrid has an expert coach in these matters such as Carlo Ancelotti, who in fact already knows what it is to win the Super Cup with Madrid: he did it in his first stage on the bench, 2-0 against Sevilla in Cardiff ( Cristiano’s brace) in 2014, after lifting the Décima weeks earlier in Lisbon. Carletto, in fact, has his particular challenge in this Wednesday’s duel: to become the only coach to have won the trophy four times. To the Super Cup that he won with Madrid, it is worth adding two with Milan (2003 and 2007). At the moment he is co-leader of the record alongside Guardiola, who won two with Barça (2009 and 2011) and one with Bayern (2013, after inheriting the European champion team with Heynckes on the bench).

A ‘cursed’ Super Cup

Ancelotti goes from record to record in the Old Continent. With the victory in Paris against Liverpool, he became the first coach with four European Cups, surpassing the three of Zidane and Bob Paisley. It is a Super Cup with history to make for Madrid and Carletto.

Madrid will have to overcome its own history in the Super Cup, which has not been so brilliant: it has won four out of seven, 57%; nothing to do with the 82% success he has in the European Cup finals (14 of 17). In the old UEFA Cup he did not fail (100%, two out of two), in the Intercontinental he has 60% (three out of five), in the Club World Cup another full (five out of five), in the Spanish Super Cup a 71 % (12 out of 17) and the Copa del Rey is their great pending issue: 19 finals won out of 39, 49%.