Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao player ratings: Benzema 8, Modric 8; Muniain 6, Balenziaga 4

Los Blancos win Spanish Super Cup after a 2-0 victory at the King Fahd International Stadium

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  REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 8. Well prepared to cover Athletic’s attacks, long range efforts and second half spells of pressure as Madrid won a first trophy in 18 months. Didn’t face a shot on target until the 82nd minute, then acrobatically saved an 88th minute Raul Garcia penalty with his left foot. The Belgian has been excellent this season. AP

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  Ferland Mendy – 7. Top left back and untroubled. AFP

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  David Alaba – 6. Ball rolled onto his arm after 12 minutes but it was accidental. Yet Madrid won a penalty for an accidental handball in the second half. Caught out by Raul Garcia after 63. Usually better. Reuters

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  Eder Militao – 6. Fell over the ball when being chased by Williams on 58 but got away with it. Otherwise, comfortable dealing with Athletic’s counter attacks from deep. Did well to block a Garcia volley, but ball bounced off him towards his goalkeeper on 84. Stopped a goal bound header with his hand on 87, but it was harsh for him to be sent off. He was furious. AP

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  Lucas Vasquez – 6. Tries to cross frequently, but the quality of them isn’t to standard. Luckily, he plays for a team who are by a distance the best in Spain right now. And in Rodrygo, he had an exceptional player in form and in front of him. Reuters

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  Toni Kroos – 7. Smart ball into the box after 18. Madrid’s veteran midfield dominated the game and were the main reason in them winning, with the German helping close down any Athletic attacks. Reuters

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  Casemiro – 7. Burst forward in a counterattack and shot on target on 27. Saw a header saved by Simon, too. Steady and strong. Reuters

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  Luka Modric – 8. At 36, the most senior head in Madrid’s mature midfield. Put his side ahead with his first goal of the season, on 38 minutes, guiding the ball past Simon. Never stopped working, even when the result was beyond doubt. Man of the match. AFP

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  Karim Benzema – 8. Scored more goals (18) against the Basques than any other club. Curled a shot wide of Spain’s number one goalkeeper Unai Simon on 18. Fluffed a shot on 50 – which led to Madrid getting a penalty – which he then put past Simon. AFP

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  Rodrygo – 8. Reclaimed his place because of an injury to Asensio and had a great game on the right. Dribbled, sowed great balance, sucked opponents in. Set up Modric for Madrid’s opener on 38. Becoming a key player for Madrid. AFP

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  Vinicius Jr – 6. Didn’t impact the game in the first half like Rodrygo on the other wing against the team with the second-best defence in La Liga. AFP

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  SUBS: Federico Valverde – 6. On for Rodrygo after 63, the stylish midfielder wasn’t as quick as he could have been getting the ball to Benzema. AP

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  Marcelo – NA. On for Vinicius Jnr after 83, Madrid’s 33-year-old club captain, with 18 trophies in 15 years at the club came onto a huge roar. Reuters

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  Nacho – N/A. On for Vasquez on 90. Reuters

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  Unai Simon – 6. He had a nervy start encapsulated a miscalculated corner, though he followed that with a strong punch to push Casemiro’s strike. He could only watch as Modric’s strike flew into the net and, though he went the right way for Benzema’s spot-kick, it was powerful. AFP

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  Oscar De Marcos – 6. Looked uncomfortable throughout and lost possession far too often, but he did well to ensure his wing wasn’t as vulnerable as Balenziaga’s. Reuters

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  Yeray Alvarez – 6. Unlucky to see referee Cesar Soto Grado overturn his initial decision after Benzema’s shot caught onto the centre-back’s shoulder from close range in the penalty box. Booked. AFP

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  Inigo Martinez – 7. Solid at the back and worked well partnering with Alvarez in the back to keep Real Madrid out and ensuring they didn’t have it all their own way. AP

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  Mikel Balenziaga – 4. Beaten by Rodrygo in the early stages and the left-back was regularly beaten with too much ease. Struggled to contain the young winger. AFP

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  Alex Berenguer – 6. The 26-year-old kept his place in the side despite the heroics of Nico Williams from the bench in the semi-finals. He had his moments, but was subbed at half-time. AP

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  Dani Garcia – 5. Tried to double up on Rodrygo after Balenziaga continued to struggle against the winger, which then gave Modric way too much space to find the back of the net. Booked. AFP

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  Oier Zarraga – 6. The 23-year-old saw an ambitious shot fly over the bar as Kroos’ closed him down, seconds before Real Madrid’s opener. Reuters

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  Iker Muniain – 6. The creative captain tried to make things work and could have nearly added to his assists tally when supplying a dangerous ball to Garcia, though his own chance at goal was largely ambitious and unable to trouble Courtois. Reuters

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  Oihan Sancet – 6. The 21-year-old saw an early shot from the edge of the box deflected over the goal, before weaving his way through Real Madrid’s defence to have an attempt curl just wide before half-time. AP

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  Inaki Williams – 7. The elder Williams brother continued his partnership up front with Sancet and whilst he would have to be patient for a chance, his speed and physicality on the ball, along with his hold-up play, did cause some problems. Reuters

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  SUBS: Nico Williams (Berenguer 46’) – 6 Unlucky not to start after his heroics against Atletico Madrid, but was still given plenty of time and had a few promising moments, although he couldn’t make the desired impact. EPA

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  Raul Garcia (Sancet 58’) – 7. Made an immediate impact from the bench, adding a little more experience to the front pairing. Had several opportunities to get his side back into the game and was unlucky not to find the back of the net. So nearly could have scored in the final minutes when his header was stopped by the hands of Militao, with the resulting poor penalty saved by Courtois. EPA

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  Yuri Berchiche (Balenziaga 58’) – 6. Some much-needed respite for Balenziaga, and he put in a great cross in the final minutes which Garcia was unfortunate not to convert. AP

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  Mikel Vesga (Zarraga 58’) - 6 Part of a triple substitution for the Basque side, won a few tackles but couldn’t make anything happen (no match photo available). AP

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  Nico Serrano (for 81’) – 6. The 18-year-old had a lively introduction, with a crack from distance seconds after coming off the bench and managing to get a touch on a loose ball in a crowded box, forcing Courtois into another save (no match photo available). Getty Images

Real Madrid were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions on Sunday after goals from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema earned them a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid took the lead in the 38th minute after Rodrygo sprinted past two defenders before passing to Modric, who rifled a shot into the back of the net.

Benzema extended their lead in the second half with a penalty after the video assistant referee spotted a handball from Yeray Alvarez inside the area.

Madrid were reduced to 10 men three minutes from time after Eder Militao was sent off for a goalline handball.

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then brilliantly stopped Raul Garcia's penalty kick with his left foot in the dying seconds.

Assessing the performances at the King Fahd International Stadium, Andy Mitten has provided his player ratings for the Real Madrid squad, while Emma James gives her verdict for Athletic in the photo gallery above.

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