MADRID // Karim Benzema believes Real Madrid can still win the Spanish Super Cup tonight despite a home draw with their rivals Barcelona in the first clasico of the season at the weekend.
"Two great teams faced each other, but honestly, Madrid deserved the win," the French striker told the sports daily AS about the 2-2 first-leg draw at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
"We did much more than Barca, but, hey, we know we have the chance to win in Barcelona and lift the Super Cup."
The second leg against the league champions Barcelona takes place at the Camp Nou, with Barca the clear favourites.
But Benzema believes that the team created by Jose Mourinho, now in his second season as Real coach, "now knows how to play the Barca (of Pep Guardiola)."
"This time, we had control of the field and we didn't let them play. That's exactly what's required against an opponent like that."
Benzema was out of favour with Mourinho for much of last season, and was often left on the bench in favour of the Argentine Gonzalo Higuain and the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroon captain, will complete a big money move to Anzhi Makhachkala this week, according to the Italian press.
The protracted transfer saga between Inter Milan and the Russian club is due to be tied up with a fee of around €30 million (Dh159m) being agreed.
The Italian press say Eto'o will undergo a medical with the official announcement of his signing set for Friday.
And Inter could soon have a replacement, with Diego Forlan setting his sights on a move to the club despite interest from Galatasaray. The 32-year-old forward of the Spanish side, Atletico Madrid, allegedly claimed from his holidays in Miami that he dreams of playing for Inter.
The Uruguayan also claimed he has had an offer from the Milan giants.
* Agencies
