Real Madrid stormed into the final of the revamped Spanish Supercopa with a 3-1 win over Valencia in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night.
With Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard out of the trip altogether, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane picked five midfielders in his starting XI and was rewarded as his side dominated possession and three of those players scored in Jeddah.
Real are in this competition after the RFEF opted to make the Supercopa a four-team affair in a three-season deal with Saudi Arabia and Los Blancos took full advantage against Copa del Rey holders Valencia.
Toni Kroos gave Los Blancos the lead in extraordinary fashion as he netted directly from a corner after 15 minutes, with Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech caught off guard and only able to help the ball into the net.
The pressure remained incessant from Zidane’s side and Isco made it 2-0 six minutes before the break, when he chested down a ball and volleyed past Jaume after Luka Modric had seen his effort blocked by a Valencia defender.
Little changed in the second period as Madrid continued to control the game and Modric made it 3-0 with a glorious goal after 65 minutes.
The Croatian received a pass from Jovic on the right side of the area, looked up and with Valencia’s defenders expecting a pass, he curled an impudent effort into the corner with the outside of his right boot.
Substitute Mariano hit the side netting late in the game as Madrid almost made it four and although Valencia pulled a goal back via a Dani Parejo penalty in added time, it was too late by that point.
Zidane’s side will meet the winner of Barcelona and Atletico, in action on Thursday, in Sunday’s final at the same stadium.
