(MENAFN- Arab Times) CARDIFF United Kingdom Aug 12 (AFP): Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged new team-mates Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez and homecoming hero Gareth Bale as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup. World Cup stars Kroos and Rodriguez were making their Madrid debuts while Bale was returning to his hometown but it was Ronaldo characteristically who hogged the spotlight with a brace in the Welsh capital. The Portugal captain claimed a 30th-minute opener from Bale's cross and then slammed home a second goal shortly after half-time to earn the European champions what could be the first of six trophies this season. While 80-million-euro ($108 million) new recruit Rodriguez had a modest debut Madrid's new-look attack which cost roughly 310 million euros to assemble showed ominous flashes of quality. Victory gave Madrid only their second Super Cup after a maiden triumph in 2002 and enabled Carlo Ancelotti's side to avenge a costly 2-1 loss at the hands of Europa League winners Sevilla in La Liga last season. While Ancelotti named both Kroos and Rodriguez in his starting XI Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno was omitted from his side's match-day squad amid reports he is on the verge of joining Liverpool. With Kroos sitting in front of the back four and Rodriguez to his left in a 4-3-3 shape Madrid quickly assumed control of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. Bale and then Ronaldo with a free-kick saw efforts deflected narrowly off-target before Bale's outside-of-the-foot volley from a Rodriguez left-wing cross was blocked by a defender. A misplaced pass by Daniel Carvajal gave Sevilla winger Vitolo a chance to shoot at goal obliging Iker Casillas to save at his near post but Madrid were soon back on the front foot. After Federico Fazio headed a deflected cross from Fabio Coentrao off his own line and Sevilla goalkeeper Beto blocked sharply from Ronaldo Madrid's lavishly assembled forward line clicked into gear for what their fans hope will be the first goal of many. When a Sevilla attack broke down Ronaldo flashed a pass inside to Rodriguez who immediately sprayed the ball wide to Bale on the left flank. Winners 2014: Real Madrid (ESP); 2013: Bayern Munich (GER); 2012: Atletico Madrid (ESP); 2011: Barcelona (ESP); 2010: Atletico Madrid (ESP); 2009: Barcelona (ESP); 2008: Zenit Saint-Petersburg (RUS); 2007: AC Milan (ITA); 2006: Sevilla (ESP); 2005: Liverpool (ENG); 2004: Valencia (ESP); 2003: AC Milan (ITA); 2002: Real Madrid (ESP); 2001: Liverpool (ENG); 2000: Galatasaray (TUR); 1999: Lazio (ITA); 1998: Chelsea (ENG)
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