9-man Real hits back for Super Cup

MADRID: Nine-man Real Madrid earned an unlikely 4-2 comeback victory over Valencia at home to win its eighth Spanish Super Cup at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

King's Cup winner Valencia had taken control of the traditional curtain-raiser to the season with a 3-2 first leg victory at the Mestalla a week ago, and then a first-half strike from David Silva in the second leg.

A red card for new Real signing Rafael van der Vaart just before the break and a second yellow for Dutch compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy after he had leveled from the penalty spot in the 49th minute, left the visitors in control.