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Spanish Super Cup, second leg

Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1

Real Madrid won this year's Spanish Super Cup after beating Barcelona on the away goal rule. Mourinho's side got off to a whirlwind start, and with just over ten minutes gone Mascherano failed to cut out Pepe's long clearance, and Higuaín ran on to shoot past Valdés. That cancelled out Barça's first leg 3-2 lead, and eight minutes later a clever back-heel flick by Cristiano Ronaldo allowed him to run on past Piqué and fire a shot under the keeper. Valdés had to make a couple of brave saves from Higuaín, and Pepe had a headed goal ruled out for a foul in the area as Madrid piled on the pressure. And later on in the first half things got worse for the visitors when Adriano was sent off for bundling over Ronaldo as he got free on goal. Valdés was called upon again to save from Khedira soon afterwards, but with the first half coming to a close Messi got Barça back in the game when he curled a free kick wide of Casillas. Both teams had opportunities after that, with Casillas saving from Pedro and Higuaín hitting the post. But when Messi fired a shot just wide of the post Barça's last chance had gone, and Madrid had their revenge for last season's defeat. (29.08.12)