Real Madrid shrugged off the absence of the suspended Cristiano Rinaldo to cruise past rival Barcelona 2-0 in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup to cap a 5-1 aggregate win.
Ronaldo was slapped with a five game ban for pushing the referee after he was sent off in the first leg, but his replacement Marco Asensio enhanced his reputation as one of world soccer's rising stars as he smashed Madrid into the lead after just four minute.
Karim Benzema then deservedly doubled Realm's lead before half time.
Barca responded with a more spirited second half showing and was unfortunate not to at least pull a goal back as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork.
Victory continues Madrid's run of success under Zinedine Zidane with the European champions now having lifted seven trophies in the 20 months since the Frenchman took charge.
"We played a great match tonight," said Zidane. "Especially in the first half it was spectacular."
Zidane even had the luxury of leaving first team regulars Gareth Bale, Isco and Casemiro on the bench as Realm's strength in depth was demonstrated in a dominant first 45 minutes.
"This team has hunger and every time we play it shows," added Zidane. "We have to try to continue like this. To start the season like this is very good, but we know a long season is just starting."
In similar fashion to his strike in the first leg, 21 year old Asensio sent an unstoppable left footed shot past Marc Andre Stegen into the top corner from outside the box.
"I think we were superior across the whole tie," Asensio told Spanish TV station Telecinco.
However, he rejected suggestions he is now ahead of Bale in Zidane's pecking order. "I am working to have as many minutes as possible on the field. I am happy on both a collective and individual level."
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has suffered the worst possible start to his reign with back to back defeats against the Catalans fiercest rival and the visitor never threatened to mount a comeback after conceding.
"We have to recover quickly, the league is on the horizon," said Valverde, ahead of Barca's La Liga opener against Real Betis on Sunday.
Shorn of Neymar after his world record breaking transfer to Paris Saint Germain and injured captain Andres Iniesta, Barca's star front two lacked the service needed to make a meaningful impact.
"In three days we find ourselves against the ropes," added Valverde. "Things have happened in present season that have affected the balance of the team and our job is to find again that balance."
Pep Segura, Barca's general manager, said negotiations with Liverpool for Brazilian playmaker Coutinho and Boruasia Dortmund over a deal for promising French winger Dembele could be finalized within days.
"We have to help the team with reinforcements and they will be here in the coming days'! Segura told Catalan TV station Esport3 after Barca lost the second leg of the Super Cup 2-0 at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.
"We are discussing the conditions of Coutinho and Dembele (...) they are close. We hope they will be Barca players next season."
Barca's season has been thrown into turmoil by Neymar's world record £222 million ($261 million) move to Paris Saint Germain earlier this month.
Kieran Canning
Agence France pressed/ Madrid
Ronaldo was slapped with a five game ban for pushing the referee after he was sent off in the first leg, but his replacement Marco Asensio enhanced his reputation as one of world soccer's rising stars as he smashed Madrid into the lead after just four minute.
Karim Benzema then deservedly doubled Realm's lead before half time.
Barca responded with a more spirited second half showing and was unfortunate not to at least pull a goal back as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork.
Victory continues Madrid's run of success under Zinedine Zidane with the European champions now having lifted seven trophies in the 20 months since the Frenchman took charge.
"We played a great match tonight," said Zidane. "Especially in the first half it was spectacular."
Zidane even had the luxury of leaving first team regulars Gareth Bale, Isco and Casemiro on the bench as Realm's strength in depth was demonstrated in a dominant first 45 minutes.
"This team has hunger and every time we play it shows," added Zidane. "We have to try to continue like this. To start the season like this is very good, but we know a long season is just starting."
In similar fashion to his strike in the first leg, 21 year old Asensio sent an unstoppable left footed shot past Marc Andre Stegen into the top corner from outside the box.
"I think we were superior across the whole tie," Asensio told Spanish TV station Telecinco.
However, he rejected suggestions he is now ahead of Bale in Zidane's pecking order. "I am working to have as many minutes as possible on the field. I am happy on both a collective and individual level."
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has suffered the worst possible start to his reign with back to back defeats against the Catalans fiercest rival and the visitor never threatened to mount a comeback after conceding.
"We have to recover quickly, the league is on the horizon," said Valverde, ahead of Barca's La Liga opener against Real Betis on Sunday.
Shorn of Neymar after his world record breaking transfer to Paris Saint Germain and injured captain Andres Iniesta, Barca's star front two lacked the service needed to make a meaningful impact.
"In three days we find ourselves against the ropes," added Valverde. "Things have happened in present season that have affected the balance of the team and our job is to find again that balance."
Pep Segura, Barca's general manager, said negotiations with Liverpool for Brazilian playmaker Coutinho and Boruasia Dortmund over a deal for promising French winger Dembele could be finalized within days.
"We have to help the team with reinforcements and they will be here in the coming days'! Segura told Catalan TV station Esport3 after Barca lost the second leg of the Super Cup 2-0 at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.
"We are discussing the conditions of Coutinho and Dembele (...) they are close. We hope they will be Barca players next season."
Barca's season has been thrown into turmoil by Neymar's world record £222 million ($261 million) move to Paris Saint Germain earlier this month.
Kieran Canning
Agence France pressed/ Madrid
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