Celebratory Super Cup confetti had barely had time to settle on the pitch before Real Madrid’s collective thoughts drifted to bigger challenges that lay ahead. Los Blancos had arrived in Cardiff talking up their chances of a clean sweep of domestic and European titles this season, and as the players slipped into the night that dream was still intact.
In truth they didn’t have to work overly hard against Sevilla to scale the first hurdle of a race they hope will see them dethrone neighbours Atletico at home and become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League crown. Yet, Carlo Ancelotti’s team hinted at what people can expect from the most expensively assembled team in history.
There were encouraging debuts from Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, the former controlling the midfield alongside Luka Modric, with a performance full of poise and positional sense. The German was the man left to screen the back four but while he curbed the attacking instincts that helped his country lift the World Cup just over four weeks ago, he did still display his wonderful range of passing.
To his left Rodriguez gave an encouraging performance in the role that Angel Di Maria made his own on the club’s march to La Decima. Most fans, club president Florentino Perez among them, may want to see the Colombian in the No10 role but his inclusion deeper gave Madrid a fluidity going forward.
Although without the ball they were ostensibly playing 4-3-3, when they had it that rapidly transformed into an intimidating 4-2-4. The first goal was an example of how devastating they can be going forward, as a lightning counter attack ended with Gareth Bale crossing from the left wing for the marauding Cristiano Ronaldo on the opposite flank.
After the game, the Portuguese winger spoke in glowing terms about the “fantastic” relationship he enjoys with Bale on the pitch, and the feeling is that the Welshman will get better this season.
He was the only member of the Madrid starting XI not have been involved at the World Cup in Brazil, but he looks fitter, sharper and is clearly eager to build on an impressive debut campaign. Iker Casillas, meanwhile, put in a performance to suggest new arrival Keylor Navas won’t have it all his own way this season.
It was in defence where Madrid looked a bit suspect. Daniel Carvajal and Sergio Ramos were both caught in possession as they surged upfield. A more confident attacking unit may well have made Ancelotti’s side pay but it could be said Madrid felt so in control of the game they could take such risks.
However, Ancelotti will be working hard to ensure his fantastic front six have suitable protection — if he can succeed in that aim, then the clean sweep might not be such an impossible dream.