MADRID, Aug. 13 -- Real Madrid struck the first blow of the season against traditional rivals FC Barcelona when they defeated the Catalans 3-1 in the Camp Nou Stadium in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup.

Madrid were able to seal the win on the break despite having Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for two absurd yellow cards after he had come on as a second half substitute and scored his side's second goal.

Barcelona started with Gerard Deulofeu in a nominal 4-3-3 formation, but with Leo Messi dropping deep to receive in midfield, while Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema led the Madrid attack in a 4-4-2 formation with Ronaldo waiting his turn on the bench.

Both sides showed from the start they were looking to pressure their rivals off the ball and the opening minutes saw too many errors.

The first chance fell to Luis Suarez, who fired directly at Madrid keeper, Keylor Navas, while Messi curled a free kick over the crossbar.

A nice combination ended with Messi just being crowed out in the Madrid area, while at the other end, good work from Isco ended with Bale seeing Ter Stegen tip a shot over the bar.

Meanwhile the typical derby tension was visible with Casemiro, shown a yellow card for a bad foul on Messi and he was followed into the book by Gerard Pique, Dani Carvajal, Bale and Messi himself.

Madrid took the lead four minutes after the break when Marcelo was allowed to overlap on the left and his cross was sliced into his own net by Pique when Ter Stegen would probably have claimed the ball with few problems.

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