Atletico Madrid’s Mandzukic strikes early to clinch Super Cup

Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic's early goal secured a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and a 2-1 aggregate success to clinch the Spanish Super Cup.

With the win, they gained some revenge for last season's Champions League final defeat.

Croatia striker Mandzukic, who joined Atletico in the close season from Bayern Munich, fired into the corner of the net from the edge of the area after two minutes.

Atletico then played the best football, although there were chances at both ends.

It was a fiery game at the Calderon in which Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent off in the first half for protesting and Real's Luka Modric was dismissed in added time for a second yellow card.

Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench after suffering a hamstring strain this week and failed to make much impact when he came on at the start of the second half.

The defeat ended Real's hopes of winning all six trophies this season at the second hurdle after they lifted the European Super Cup last week by beating Sevilla.

It was an indication that Atletico have lost none of their desire ahead of the La Liga kick off this weekend.

Despite fielding several new players, Atletico have started as they finished off last term with the same tenacity that saw them win La Liga and reach the European Cup final where Real got the better of them with a 4-1 win after extra time.

Angel Di Maria was left out of the squad amid media reports he is close to leaving.

Ronaldo was taken off as a precaution at halftime during the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu on Tuesday suffering with a hamstring strain.

Although coach Carlo Ancelotti played down the injury and said he was fit to face Atletico, the Portugal forward has not been risked from the start at the Calderon.

Argentina winger Di Maria, who finished the season in blistering form and has looked strong in pre-season, has turned down a new deal at the Bernabeu and has been linked with a move to the English Premier League.

“Di Maria asked to leave this summer and rejected the option to renew,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Thursday.

“We'll look for the best option for him and if at the end of August he is still here then he will work with us like last season.”