Real Madrid laid on the style in a convincing 2-0 defeat of Barcelona on Wednesday that saw them claim the Spanish Super Cup crown 5-1 on aggregate.
Goals from the ascendant Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema shook their Catalan rivals in a clear statement of intent by the back-to-back Champions League winners and defending La Liga champions this season.
Real were missing star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who was suspended five matches for his push of referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea in the Camp Nou first leg after receiving a second yellow for diving.
Lucas Vazquez took the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's place, while Asensio, who scored a late screamer in the 3-1 win in Catalonia, filled in for Isco in the Real starting XI.
And it was the latter who stunned the Bernabeu faithful -- and coach Zinedine Zidane -- with a fourth-minute opener of considerable quality.
Marco Asensio got Real Madrid off to a stunning start. Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Picking up the ball from 30 yards out, the Spain international's sweetly hit left-footed shot left Marc-Andre ter Stegen rooted as it beat him to the top corner -- a strike Zidane clearly appreciated on the touchline.
Benzema then doubled Real's advantage six minutes before the break with a well-taken goal of his own -- the French forward racing onto a rolled Marcelo cross from the left, popping the ball up and away from defender Samuel Umtiti and firing an unstoppable left-footed volley low and hard past a helpless Ter Stegen.
Lionel Messi struck the underside of the crossbar to show Barca still had some fight left in them on 52 minutes. And Luis Suarez hit the post with a diving header after Messi forced a save from Keylor Navas in the 71st minute.
But it was all the 2014-15 Treble winners could muster as Real followed their UEFA Super Cup victory with a second trophy on the young season.
Source: espn.co.uk