Chapter 110: The UEFA Super Cup

The UEFA Super Cup is a competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) at the start of each season. Before 1999, it was contested between the winners of the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Champions League. Nowadays, the title is fought over by the champions of the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Champions League.

Since 1998, this curtain-raiser for the new season has been held at the Stade Louis II in Monaco. However, the UEFA Executive Committee in Nyon later decided to end this 15-year tradition. From 2013 onward, the Super Cup would be hosted at different venues, beginning with the Eden Arena, with each year’s location predetermined by UEFA.

In the history of the UEFA Super Cup, there have been six instances where teams from the same country faced each other.

The earliest domestic showdown occurred in 1990, when AC Milan, champions of the European Cup, faced Sampdoria, winners of the Cup Winners' Cup. Both clubs hailed from Italy’s Serie A, which at that time was often referred to as the “Little World Cup.” The two legs ended with AC Milan triumphing 3-1 on aggregate, securing the title. This encounter was a testament to Serie A’s strength during that era, with both clubs counted among the "Seven Sisters" of Italian football.

In 1993, Serie A again monopolized the Super Cup. Due to Marseille’s bribery scandal that year, AC Milan, as Champions League runners-up, took their place against Parma, the Cup Winners' Cup holders. Parma emerged victorious with a 2-1 aggregate score. Though Parma was once a powerhouse, it has since faded into the lower tiers of Italian football—a stark contrast to its former glory.

For over a decade after that, no domestic clashes occurred in the Super Cup until the rise of Sevilla in the Europa League coincided with strong Champions League performances by Real Madrid and Barcelona. This period saw four such face-offs, highlighting La Liga’s dominance.

The current UEFA Super Cup took place in Norway, hosting a European final for the first time. The weather was chilly at 13 degrees Celsius, and rain persisted throughout the matchday. After warming up, Dai Zhiwei had to slip on an extra thermal layer beneath his jersey to keep warm.

Last season, Real Madrid secured their 11th Champions League title. In three recent friendlies, they posted two wins and one loss.

For this match, Real Madrid did not field their strongest side, showing less urgency compared to Villarreal. None of the six starters from last season’s Champions League final, including the famed BBC trio, started. The returning Morata joined Lucas Vázquez and Asensio upfront.

In contrast, Villarreal, making their first Super Cup appearance, placed great importance on the match. They arrived in Norway two days early for training and fielded their strongest lineup. Coach Marcelino openly told his players before kickoff: “We must fight for this trophy!”

This aligned perfectly with Dai Zhiwei’s ambitions.

Real Madrid’s starting eleven featured: Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kovacic, Casemiro, Isco; Lucas Vázquez, Morata, Asensio.

Villarreal’s lineup was: Asenjo; Gaspar, Musacchio, Ruiz, Rukavina; Cheryshev, Bruno, Trigueros, Castillejo; Dai Zhiwei, Pato.

Villarreal kicked off, with Pato nervously stepping on the ball at the center circle. This was his first official match back in European competition.

“Hey, Alexander, don’t be nervous. This is my first Super Cup too,” Dai Zhiwei assured his forward partner.

Pato glanced at his somewhat carefree teammate and smiled, signaling he was fine. As a former recipient of the European Golden Boy award and Serie A champion, Pato wondered where this younger man’s confidence came from. Yet, he liked Dai Zhiwei, who, despite taking his cherished number 10 jersey, proved to be humble and gentlemanly upon getting to know him.

The referee blew the whistle, and cheers erupted across the Ullevaal Stadion.

Pato kicked off; Dai Zhiwei returned the ball. Villarreal did not play it back immediately but passed it again to Dai, who distributed it wide. Castillejo, playing right midfield, tried to break through but failed and earned a throw-in.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2016 UEFA Super Cup,” the commentator began, outlining the starting lineups.

Suddenly, a collective sigh echoed from the stands as Dai Zhiwei and Pato miscommunicated—a through ball rolled inward while Pato ran outward, missing a prime chance to break through.

In the previous five friendlies, Dai and Pato had been cultivating on-field chemistry, consciously seeking each other out in attack. Progress was evident but not yet at the level of an unstoppable strike partnership.

“That was a good idea, and Dai’s pass was spot on. Unfortunately, Pato’s run was off, losing the chance,” the commentator lamented.

Real Madrid launched a fierce attack from the outset. As the first competitive match of the new season, players on the fringe were eager to impress Zidane and earn more playing time. Zidane fielded mostly substitutes to test squad depth—a key consideration for Real’s triple-competition campaign.

For Zidane, winning the Super Cup was desirable but not essential.

Villarreal’s competitiveness was less intense; apart from a few positions, their starting and backup players were clearly established.

Midfielders Cheryshev and Castillejo bore the responsibility of stretching Real’s defense along the flanks, aiming to feed Pato and Dai Zhiwei centrally for finishing.

The early exchanges were thrilling, with Villarreal balancing defense and counterattack—roughly sixty percent defending and forty percent attacking—making for an exciting spectacle.

Dai Zhiwei floated around upfront, ready to connect with teammates. But just as he controlled the ball, Ramos, man-marking him tightly, launched a fierce tackle from behind, sending Dai to the ground.

“You trash! Looking for trouble again?” Dai, now stronger after muscle training, quickly got up and confronted Ramos, hurling words.

One of the match’s highlights was the renewed rivalry between Dai and Ramos, who had clashed intensely last season.

The referee hurried over, separating the two before others could join. He issued a stern verbal warning.

“The match has just started and I don’t want to give any cards yet. But watch your tackles—keep it clean. Next foul and it’s a yellow card!”

“Not done yet!” Dai muttered as Ramos walked away, defiant as ever.

There would be no peace between these two.

The commentator noted, “Real Madrid clearly fears Dai. Ramos’s foul was harsh but well-timed. Had Dai turned with the ball, Villarreal’s attack would have threatened Real’s goal.”

Real Madrid then retreated to slow the tempo.

When Dai faced Ramos next, he was more active in his runs, stretching the defense.

Ramos pressed aggressively, almost desperate, while Dai used nimble movement to keep him guessing. No matter the odds, Dai gave his all for each chance.

At over 30 years old and fresh from the European Championship, Ramos’s stamina was inferior to the younger Dai, who exerted himself both offensively and defensively, pressing high and quickly recovering possession. This disrupted Real’s counterattacks, forcing them into errant long passes that handed the ball back to Villarreal.

Such relentless running exhausted Ramos, whose experience was his main asset over physicality. Dai’s unpredictable movement was a constant challenge.

Finally, Dai broke free on the left flank, combining with Cheryshev to deliver a cross. Pato leapt powerfully to head the ball toward goal.

Real’s goalkeeper Casillas, clearly out of peak form from his substitute years, was helpless against the near-post header.

“Gooooooooooooooooooal!”

1-0! Villarreal took the lead through Pato, and the game’s rhythm shifted firmly in favor of the Yellow Submarine.

Yet Real Madrid was never an easy opponent.

Just two minutes later, with Pato’s smile still lingering, Real launched a swift counterattack.

Outside the penalty area, Asensio struck a fierce shot that flew into the far corner, leaving Asenjo stunned.

1-1—Real equalized.

The half was almost over after this.

Villarreal’s players showed no sign of deflation, though some were a bit downbeat. After all, they were up against the mighty Galácticos.

In the locker room, Marcelino calmly addressed defensive mistakes from the first half and outlined tactics for the remainder, then left the players to their own devices. No substitutions were hinted.

Both coaches shared a similar mindset: as long as no major errors occurred, maintain the course without risking everything.

The break passed quickly, and players slowly filtered back onto the pitch.

In the second half, Villarreal, the underdogs, focused on stabilizing their defense and controlling possession with measured precision.

Real Madrid began with furious pressure but failed to create clear chances for ten minutes, then eased off to patiently await openings.

Sensing the momentum fade, Marcelino made a substitution. New signing Alfred N’Diaye, the “beast midfielder,” replaced the active Castillejo. N’Diaye partnered Bruno and Trigueros to form a three-man defensive midfield, pushing Cheryshev forward to join Dai and Pato in a front three.

“Seriously, coach?” Dai shook his head at the change.

From his perspective, Marcelino was good at everything except sometimes being overly cautious. But when the weak face the strong, the key is to know your limits, right?

The three-man midfield solidified Villarreal’s defensive shape, but in attack, the burden fell on the front trio.

Among them, Dai, last season’s top scorer and Europa League Golden Boot winner for Villarreal, performed best; Cheryshev followed; Pato appeared more nervous.

At the 60th minute, Villarreal mounted a promising counterattack, only for Pato to misplace a pass, triggering laughter from Madrid fans in the stands.

Fortunately, the seasoned Pato quickly regained composure, buoyed by his earlier goal.

At the 68th minute, Pato’s assist created a chance for Dai. Cutting in from the left, Dai unleashed a powerful long-range shot with heavy spin toward the far corner.

Casillas, displaying remarkable reflexes, dived and instinctively tipped the ball over the line, leaving Dai disappointed.

The substitutes on the bench had been ready to celebrate before Casillas’s save spoiled the moment, prompting frustrated punches in the air.

Though the shot missed, it boosted Dai’s confidence. His form was clearly improving, gradually returning to the prolific scorer he had been last season.

After the attempt, Dai smiled and gave Pato a thumbs-up.

(End of chapter)