Super Cup: 10-man Real claim win first-leg over Barca, as Ronaldo sees red

Ernesto Valverde’s first official match in charge of Barcelona has ended in a disappointing 3-1 defeat to rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana.
A thrilling second half to the El Clasico showdown in Catalonia saw Lionel Messi cancel out an earlier Gerard Pique own goal from the penalty spot, with the decision controversially given after Luis Suarez appeared to dive.
That was just the start of the drama, though, as Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to regain his side’s advantage, before being dismissed for two cautions in quick succession – the latter for placing his hands on the referee when a penalty call went against him.
The 10 men of Real would go on to add a third late on thanks to Marco Asensio, meaning that they are in full control ahead of Wednesday’s return leg at the Bernabeu.
Isco picked out the side-netting and Casemiro’s belter was hit straight at Ter Stegen in a first half lacking any real attacking quality, with Gareth Bale’s snapshot late in the opening 45 minutes – helped over the bar by the Barca keeper – as close as either side came to an opener.
Madrid made the breakthrough early in the second half through a Pique own goal, coming after Marcelo sent a dangerous cross into the box from the left which the centre-back horribly diverted into his own net.
Denis Suarez was kept out by Navas and Sergio Busquets somehow blasted high over the bar from a six yards out with a big part of the goal to aim for in the most gripping of second halves.
Then came five minutes of drama as, after producing two big stops to keep out Messi, Navas was accused of tripping Luis Suarez inside the box – replays suggesting that the Uruguayan conned the referee into awarding the pen.
Messi sent Navas the wrong way to level things up at Camp Nou, only for Ronaldo to expertly cut inside and pick his spot from the edge of the box to put the La Liga champions back in front.
Then came the controversial red for Ronaldo, awarded after two yellows in quick succession – one for taking off his top to celebrate, the other for going to ground too easily under contract from Samuel Umtiti, which he did not respond well to.
Not that it matted, as another second-half substitute in Asensio gave a further glimpse of his attacking capabilities by drilling the ball past Ter Stegen late on when played in on the counter to open up a two-goal advantage for his side.