Atletico Madrid have won their second UEFA Super Cup in three years, inspired by a first-half hat-trick by Radamel Falcao.
Chelsea started with former Atleti hero Fernando Torres in attack, whilst Diego Simeone could name a full-strength Rojiblancos for the match.
In this showpiece event between last season’s Champions League winners and Europa League winners, it was Atleti that started the better.
After just four minutes, neat play down the left served Radamel Falcao with a first chance. The striker did well to get in front of his marker for an attempt, only to see it come back off the crossbar.
Falcao’s second chance just four minutes later, however, was converted. Played through into space, the Colombian expertly lifted the ball over Petr Cech to the far post to out-fox David Luiz’ attempts to block on the line.
Chelsea looked for a response, but it was Simeone’s side who took possession to make it 2-0 before 20 minutes. Again it was through Falcao, when after neat interplay between Adrian Lopez and Koke saw him pick up another through ball to turn inside and curl the ball high and over Cech from the edge of the area.
An unchecked 60-yard run from Adrian on the counter-attack saw Gabi waste a good chance to make it 3-0 close to the half-hour mark, when Cech pushed his effort out.
Chelsea pressed forward, but Atleti had another great chance to make it three, when Arda Turan’s cross first deflected off a slow Adrian in front of goal, before the rebound was headed against the post by Falcao. Arda Turan’s offside position in the build-up had been missed.
Falcao did take his final chance of the half to reach the hat-trick, as he picked up a pass from Arda Turan after another counter-attack to burst into the area and place the ball under Cech.
A quieter second half was punctuated by a fourth goal for Atletico. Chelsea failed to clear a free-kick and centre-back Miranda was first on the scene to knock in the second ball over Cech.
Chelsea then pulled one back in similar circumstances as the Rojiblancos failed to clear a corner swung in, and Gary Cahill capitalised on the static ball to finish from five yards out.
The second 45 was played out with the Londoners pressing for a second, but Atleti actually creating the clearer chances when they countered on a couple of occasions.
It was almost 5-1 in stoppage time when Emre broke through into space and his square pass was diverted goalwards by Luiz, only for the own goal to be averted as it struck the post.
Chelsea 1-4 Atletico Madrid
Scorers: Falcao 7, 19, 45, Miranda 60 (AM), Cahill (75)
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole (Bertrand 90); Mikel, Lampard; Ramires (Oscar 46), Hazard, Mata (Sturridge 82); Torres
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis; Mario, Gabi; Koke (Raul Garcia 81), Arda, Adrian (Rodriguez 56); Falcao (Emre 87)
