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Atletico fight off Real Madrid in extra time to claim 3rd Super Cup

Atletico Madrid ended Real Madrid’s uninterrupted European reign on Wednesday, denying Los Blancos a third consecutive UEFA Super Cup with a 4-2 comeback win in Tallinn, Estonia.

Diego Costa scored twice, including a spectacular solo effort in the first minute, to take the tie to extra time, and Saul Niguez and Koke netted in the final frame to secure Atleti’s third-ever Super Cup.

Madrid, who paired each of their previous two Champions League titles with Super Cup victories, built a 2-1 lead thanks to Karim Benzema’s header and Sergio Ramos’ penalty. However, with suspended manager Diego Simeone pacing up in the stands, Atletico did what they do best and rallied to beat their hated rivals.

The result spoiled Julen Lopetegui’s competitive debut on Madrid’s bench and put more pressure on the Spaniard heading into the new season. He was famously fired by Spain on the eve of the World Cup for accepting the Madrid job without authorization.

Madrid hadn’t lost any of their previous 13 international finals over the past 18 years, dating back to a defeat to Boca Juniors in the 2000 Intercontinental Cup.

Saul’s sensational volley in the 98th minute was the difference between two sides that scrapped all match. Atleti’s famous pressing forced a crucial giveaway, and it was left to the Spanish midfielder to convert substitute Thomas Partey’s cross.

Costa set the tone after just 49 seconds, winning a duel with Ramos before unleashing a blistering shot past Keylor Navas’ near post. Benzema wiped out Atleti’s early advantaged later in the first half when he connected with Gareth Bale’s pinpoint cross.

Ramos then put Madrid ahead with a calm penalty in the 63rd minute, only for Costa to bang in his second from close range to tie things up again.

Atleti found another gear during extra time and ensured their 100 percent record in Super Cups remained in tact. They have won the trophy in each of their three appearances in the showpiece event.

It’s also the seventh major trophy of the Simeone era, making the Argentinian the most successful manager in club history.

NFL

Raiders' Penn activated off PUP, moved to RT

NAPA, Calif. — The day after agreeing to a restructured contract, three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn was activated from the physically unable to perform list and moved to a new position with the Oakland Raiders — right tackle.

The move could also portend first-round draft pick Kolton Miller winning the starting left tackle job.

“They talked to me about it, about trying it out, seeing what it would do, seeing how I would feel over there and I told them, ‘I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win, and if you guys feel that’s going to be in the best interest of the team, I’ll do it,'” Penn said Tuesday, following his first training camp practice.

“Today felt kind of awkward and rusty, but I need time to develop. I don’t know if that’s going to be a permanent thing or not yet, but it is something we’re testing out and I told them I’m all for it. We’ve got a young kid over there [Miller] that’s doing a lot of good things.”

Penn, who received a two-year, $21 million extension after a 26-day holdout last year, reportedly took a small pay cut this year to get some guaranteed money next season.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, Penn was due base salaries of $6 million in each of the next two seasons, with a guaranteed $3 million this season and a $300,000 workout bonus based on six weigh-ins, with $50,000 per weigh-in.

And under the parameters of said contract, he was due a $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year in 2019 and the remaining $5 million of his salary became fully guaranteed if he had 75 percent playing time in 2018.

Penn, who had been rehabbing from Lisfranc surgery on his right foot in December that ended his consecutive starts streak at 170, said the Raiders mentioned the possibility of a position switch to him during “negotiations with the contract stuff” over the past week.

“And then this morning, they told me that they wanted me to try it out today and see how it goes,” Penn said. “I told them I was going to give my best effort and go out there and try to be Donald Penn over there.”

The only other time Penn played right tackle was in an emergency situation in the 2016 season opener at New Orleans, after Menelik Watson and Vadal Alexander were lost to injury.

Per Pro Football Focus, Penn played 24 snaps at right tackle that day and in 18 pass-block snaps there, he did not allow a quarterback pressure.

“It was tough,” Penn said. “I’m glad we won. I was out there battling, holding on for dear life. It was tough.”

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said it was strange seeing the protector of his blind side now lined up in front of him.

“It was a little different, but that’s why you have good players,” Carr said Tuesday. “That’s why you add good players to your team, so when things happen you can put guys in different spots.”

Penn, 35, said he had been studying new coach Jon Gruden’s playbook while rehabbing, but all as a left tackle. And during practice, Penn found himself lining up next to left guard Kelechi Osemele and also lined up at right tackle in his left-hand stance.

“We’ve got a good thing going here,” Penn said. “I just want to help us win. I’m not playing too much longer. I just want to win, really. So if this is going to help us win, I’m all in for it.

“Kolton, me and Kolton, we’re developing a good friendship. I want to have him ready so when he goes out there he can succeed. It’s not like I’m over here, like jealous or mad. I’m trying to help the kid out so the kid can be as good as possible because it’s going to help us out as a team.”

Soccer

Sergio Ramos: Liverpool boss Klopp 'should stick to his own business'

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has taken aim at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, suggesting the German’s poor record in major finals means he should “stick to his own business.”

Last month, Klopp was critical of Ramos’ role in the Champions League final in May, which the Reds lost 3-1. Mo Salah had to be replaced in the first half after injuring his shoulder in a tangle with the defender, and Klopp suggested Ramos’ challenge played a part in Loris Karius’ concussion.

Related – Klopp: Ramos was ruthless, brutal in Champions League final

“It’s not the first final (Klopp) has lost, he should stick to his own business,” Ramos said, as reported by Reuters.

“Some of us have been operating at a very high level for many years, I’m not sure he can say the same.”

Klopp’s record in finals certainly leaves something to be desired. He has won only one of seven major finals during his managerial career, with the lone win coming in the form of a DFB-Pokal triumph with Borussia Dortmund over six years ago.

With Liverpool, he finished as runner-up in the 2015-16 EFL Cup and Europa League before the defeat to Ramos’ Real at the end of last season.

Ramos was speaking ahead of his side’s UEFA Super Cup showdown with city rivals – and Europa League winners – Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

NFL

Rodgers: Criticism of young WRs not personal

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers said he was not sending a message last week when he referred to practice as “piss poor,” but if some members of the Green Bay Packers were bothered by it, well, now it sounds like Rodgers has a message for them.

“I hope we’re not that soft,” Rodgers said Monday. “I hope we can hear comments or read comments and not get offended by things. It’s a professional environment; it’s not a personal environment. The things I’m saying, I don’t have some vendetta against any player. I care about winning, No. 1, and I’m going to say and do the things that I feel like can advance us. It’s going to be tough at some points. It’s not a popularity contest all the time. Obviously, as a human, you like being liked and appreciated, but I’m trying to win games because that’s my job.”

It was after a sloppy practice last week, one that ended with Rodgers flinging the ball at some tackling dummies in frustration, that he criticized the young receivers — without naming any names — for their effort while running the scout team. Rodgers was working with them on the scout team last week because he wasn’t going to play in the preseason opener against Tennessee.

In that preseason opener, a couple of the Packers’ rookie receivers stood out: fifth-round pick Marquez Valdes-Scantling with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown and sixth-rounder Equanimeous St. Brown with four catches for 61 yards. Fourth-round pick J’Mon Moore had a tougher debut with a pair of dropped passes.

After the game, Valdes-Scantling said: “You know, when the leader says you’ve got to pick it up, that’s what you do. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it, so whatever he says, we have to go out and do it.”

Rodgers, however, said he doesn’t think it was because of what he said.

“Again, I don’t feel like when you make a statement like that that there needs to be some big response or feelings hurt or offense that somebody takes with it,” Rodgers said. “If they do, they’re taking it the wrong way because this is a professional environment. Like I said, I’m doing things that I feel like are in the best interest of the team from a leadership standpoint, and if no one else is going to stand up and criticize a bad practice, then maybe I need to be the one to do it. So I did it.

“I talked about the carded period that we had. The guys played well in the game, made some plays. It’s been a good week of practice, I think. It’s been hot, but the guys have been competing and making plays. I don’t think that’s a response to anything I’ve said. Now maybe it is for a couple of them, but it shouldn’t be. You get to this league, and to stick around, you’ve got to be self-motivated. So as a leader, you try to inspire, but the motivation to change and to improve has got to come from within.”

“I hope we can hear comments or read comments and not get offended by things,” Aaron Rodgers said. “I care about winning, No. 1, and I’m going to say and do the things that I feel like can advance us.” Jim Matthews/Green Bay Press-Gazette

It appears that Rodgers will make his preseason debut on Thursday against the Steelers because he was off scout-team duty Monday. Last year, he played one series in Week 2 of the preseason (and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett at the end of a 15-play drive) and two series in Week 3.

That left tackle David Bakhtiari returned to practice Sunday, just eight days after he sprained his left ankle, could also aid in the protection of Rodgers in his preseason work.

“I think he knows I’m playing, so he wants to be out there with me,” Rodgers said.

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga also has begun working into 11-on-11 periods in his return from last year’s ACL surgery, so Rodgers could have his full offensive line intact.

Rodgers said it was important to him to play at Lambeau Field, something he hasn’t done since Week 4 of last season against the Bears. He broke his collarbone in Week 6 at Minnesota, and his only game back last season was at Carolina in Week 15. The Packers’ final two preseason games are on the road: at Oakland and at Kansas City.

“I haven’t played at home for a long time,” Rodgers said. “So it will be nice to get out on Lambeau. And then we’ll see about Week 3 and 4, but you’re always working on things, whether it’s practice or preseason game. It’s just trying to get the timing down with the guys, and the speed is obviously a little faster at times in practice — not always. The scheme is not always extremely difficult, so it’s more about making sure you’re seeing things the right way. Like I said, it’s not a ton of preparation in the same way it would be for a regular-season game. But I think there’s still things to be gained even for a veteran player in the preseason.”

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