That winning feeling returns to Madrid

It may have only been the Spanish Super Cup but it was more than just the Spanish Cup. A dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over neighbours Atlético Madrid handed Real Madrid their first major trophy since the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup, and in-turn a real confidence boost ahead of a big few months for Zinedine Zidane and his men. Los Blancos were held 0-0 against Diego Simeone's men after extra-time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - a controversial location for the competition - but Thibaut Courtois stepped forward to help Madrid clinch their first trophy since Zidane's return to the helm last year. More than another trophy in the Santiago Bernabéu museum, however, the victory will give Madrid that winning feeling - a feeling that has been largely missing since Zidane left the club following the Champions League triumph over Liverpool in Kiev in 2018. Madrid's relative struggles since Zidane's departure may be relative, but a year-long stretch without silverware hit Madrid hard. Winning became a habit and that habit seemed to have slipped away. That Madrid have rediscovered that feeling comes at just the right time with three trophies still to play for this season in the Copa del Rey, LaLiga and Champions League.