Seville defeats Madrid in the 1st leg of the Spanish Super Copa

Sevilla drew first blood in their two-legged Spanish Super Cup duel against Real Madrid as they beat the league champions in the Sánchez Pizjuán thanks to a first half penalty from Luis Fabiano.

The Andalucian outfit were strong throughout and could well (and should) have increased the lead that they will take to the Bernabéu next weekend.

Both Sevilla and Madrid were without key players and the close socreline will still give Bernd Schuster hope that his side can overturn this result.

While the hosts were without Frédéric Kanouté, the visitors certainly missed the presence of Ruud Van Nistelrooy up front as they looked blunt for long periods.

Khalid Boulahrouz and Ivica Dragutinovic nullified the majority of Madrid attacks, with Schuster's boys not looking too imaginative, to put it gently.

Iker Casillas was the first keeper to warm his gloves when Fabiano took aim after just three minutes, before Andrés Palop was called into action when Raúl stole possession only to see the ball taken off his toes by the Sevilla custodian.

In the 15th minute Fabio Cannavaro headed just wide, while Renato blazed over before the deadlock was broken after 25 minutes.

Duda was picked out by Martí, but as the former Málaga midfielder bore down on goal he was bundled over by Sergio Ramos and the referee did not hesititate to point to the spot. Surprisingly no card was shown, but Fabiano made the Madrid defender pay as he tucked the spot-kick into the bottom left side of the net.

Guti went close to equalising ten minutes from the break, but shot wide after his free-kick had hit the wall and fallen back to him. After Robinho had shot off target, Sevilla had two good opportunities to extend their lead just before the interval.

Guti lost possession to Martí and the midfielder strolled forward before powering the ball straight at Casillas depite having plenty of time and space. Then, moments later the Madrid keeper palmed down a high free-kick a touch recklessly, only for Fabiano to steer wide from close range. Would Sevilla pay the penalty?

Schuster showed that he was determined to take something from the encounter as he introduced Julio Baptista and Javier Saviola soon after the break, but his team's first chance of the second period went to Pepe.

Baptista then powered over at one end and Jesús Navas tested Casillas at the other. Sevilla set their stall out to defend thereafter, something that actually made Madrid look more blunt due to the fact the gaps had been closed down.

In the closing moments, Mahamadou Diarra had a good chance as Guti back-heeled the ball on the edge of the area, but the former Lyon star saw his low drive superbly tipped around the post by Palop.