Cristiano Ronaldo scored and was then sent off as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup first leg.
Ronaldo was judged to have dived after colliding with Samuel Umtiti (Getty) |
Ronaldo went from hero to villain in the space of two minutes in the game.
Left out of the starting line-up for this first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, Ronaldo's brilliant effort from range had restored Real's lead with 10 minutes remaining, but he was sent off shortly afterwards having picked up two yellow cards in quick succession.
To compound matters, the Portugal forward – linked with a move away from the Bernabeu this summer – then pushed referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being shown a red card.
Gerard Pique's own goal had put Real ahead after a low-key first half, but in a frantic finish Lionel Messi equalised from the spot before Ronaldo struck, with Marco Asensio grabbing a last-minute third for the 10 men.
Mateo Kovacic could have given Real the lead in the first minute after Marc-Andre ter Stegen's poor clearance gifted a chance to the visitors, but the midfielder's attempted lob fell into the backtracking goalkeeper's arms.
At the other end Luis Suarez tested Keylor Navas and Gerard Deulofeu failed to pick out a team-mate with his cut-back after reaching the byline.
Ronaldo, who was a substitute, restored Real's lead when he ran from halfway before smashing an effort home.
He was booked for taking off his shirt to celebrate and shown a second yellow shortly after for a dive - before Marco Asensio scored Real's excellent third.
Ronaldo felt he should have had a penalty when he went down under pressure from Samuel Umtiti, and appeared to shove the referee in the back after he was shown the red card.
Ronaldo saw red"
Cristiano Ronaldo who missed most of pre-season after his participation in the Confederations Cup with Portugal was brilliant in the 24 minutes he spent on the pitch.
Having started on the bench, as he did for the Uefa Super Cup win over Manchester United, he was introduced in the 58th minute with his side leading 1-0.
He watched on as Messi levelled the scores before scoring a typically brilliant goal himself, cutting inside and curling home an unstoppable effort from the edge of the box.
To celebrate, he removed his shirt and flexed his muscles, earning himself a booking.
Two minutes later, he tumbled in the box after going shoulder to shoulder with Umtiti, for which he was shown a second yellow card.
Barca had 10 minutes to find another equaliser, but 10-man Real struck again as Asensio added to his growing reputation with a superb strike into the top corner from 25 yards. The 21-year-old has now scored on his La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup debuts for Real.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in his last 11 games at the Nou Camp
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