European Super Cup 2002/2003

This year's European Super Cup was played between the Champions League winner Real Madrid and UEFA cup winner Feyenoord in Monaco on 30 August.

Real Madrid 3 - Feyenoord 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Cambiasso (Pavón 86'); Figo, Zidane (Solari 85'), Raúl; Guti (Portillo 70'). 4-2-3-1.
Feyenoord: Zoetebier; Gyan (Buffel 71'), Wonderen, Paauwe, Rzasa; Emerton, Bosvelt, Ono, Lurling; Hooijdonk, Kalou. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Paauwe (own goal). Turned low cross from Roberto Carlos past keeper.
2-0. 21. Roberto Carlos. Took return pass from Guti to fire right foot shot into net.
2-1. 56. Van Hooydonck. Bent free kick over wall into top corner of net.
3-1. 60. Guti. Diving far post header after Figo floated ball across.

European champions Real Madrid won their first ever Super Cup at the third time of trying, beating last season's UEFA cup winners Feyenoord 3-1 in Monaco. Having lost the trophy in their last two appearances against Chelsea and Galatasaray, Madrid were in no mood for playing around, and they raced into a two goal lead in the first twenty minutes, with Roberto Carlos having a hand in both goals. With less than a quarter of an hour gone, an excellent Cambiasso fed the Brazilian full back on the left wing, and his hard-driven low cross was turned in to his own net by Paauwe. Then five minutes later Roberto Carlos finished off a quick passing move between Cambiasso and Guti to beat Zoetebier with a rare right foot shot.

Van Hooijdonk pulled one back with a well struck free kick in the second half, but Madrid rapidly restored the two goal lead when Guti got on the end of Figo's floated cross to head into an empty net. Guti was only in the side to replace Morientes, who had been left out at the last minute in view of the transfer speculation over him and Ronaldo, but the makeshift striker took his chance well and should have increased the lead a few minutes later when he shot over the bar. The Dutch side came back again though, and Casillas was forced to make saves from Ono and another Hooijdonk free kick before the final whistle went.

The result rounded off a good couple of days for Del Bosque's side, who had wrapped up most of the season's best prizes in the UEFA gala the night before. Del Bosque himself had won the prize as Europe's best manager, Zidane was voted most valuable player and also got the prize for the best goal (the one in the Champions League final), Roberto Carlos was elected Europe's best defender and Raúl won best forward. And with Roberto Carlos given the man of the match award to add to his Champions League and World Cup winners medals, he could be on line to be the first defender in years to win world footballer of the year. Right now though its back to Earth for Monday night's opening league match against Espanyol.

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