31 August,2012 08:16 AM IST | | Agencies
Cristiano Ronaldo voiced his delight over Real Madrid's 2-1 home win against Barcelona in the second leg of their Spanish Super Cup encounter on Wednesday, and stressed that winning their first title of the season at the expense of their arch-rivals is a real confidence boost.
First of many?u00a0Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Pepe celebrate after winning theu00a0Spanish Super Cup. Pic/Getty Imagesu00a0
Los Blancos were beaten 3-2 in the first leg, but early goals from Gonzalo Higuain and the Portuguese winger put the Santiago Bernabeu side 4-3 up on aggregate. Lionel Messi then pegged one back from a free kick, but it was not enough for Barca as Madrid won on the away-goals rule.
Barca previously lost Adriano to a straight red card for a last-man foul on Ronaldo.
It was a timely success for Madrid, who have already fallen five points behind arch rivals Barca in La Liga after a draw and a loss in their first two league games.
"We started well and we scored two quick goals that gave us confidence," he was quoted as saying on the club's official website.
"We played well and created many chances. In the second half we slowed the tempo because we were tired, but we deserved to win.
"We won an important trophy. It gives us confidence and we have to celebrate it. We cannot slip up in La Liga because we know that Barcelona are very strong."
Barca could have won with 10 men, says Xavi
Xavi insistedu00a0that Barcelona had every chance of beating Real Madrid, despite the fact that they were reduced to 10 men due to Adriano's dismissal. Barca were beaten 2-1, but Xavi feels the Catalans gave a good account of themselves: "We could have won even when we were reduced to 10 men."
