Back up to the other end....Koke whizzes a long-range effort over the Real bar, before sloppy defending from the visitors gifts possession to Antoine Griezmann. But the young Frenchman, a summer signing from Real Sociedad, loses his head and scuffs one across the face of goal.

Whistles ring out around the Calderon as Cristiano Ronaldo hovers over a 25-yard free-kick. Perhaps it is because referee David Fernandez appears to have forgotten to bring his vanishing spray with him. Those jeers turn to cheers as Ronaldo's dipping shot bashes the head of one member of the Atletico wall.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

If things aren't quite happening for Real Madrid - and they're not at the moment - then Carlo Ancelotti knows he has plenty of ammunition on the bench. Off goes £70m World Cup star James Rodriguez. On comes Spain attacking midfielder Isco, who signed for a meagre £23m last summer.

Image source, AP

Penalty for Real? Gareth Bale thinks so. The Welshman is sent sprawling just inside the Atletico box, throwing his arms into the air in protest to the referee after he tries to bamboozle a sliding Tiago with a Zidane-inspired Marseilles turn. The man in the middle is having none of it. Play on...

UnSimpleSimon, external: Real's over reliance on CR7 gives some weight to Barca's wisdom of having Messi, Neymar, & Suarez in the same team.

Hector Emerick, external: There is no way Real Madrid will be able to win the sextuple. Lets not forget that they didnt win the La liga.

The noise volume inside the Calderon goes up another notch as the home side pile on the pressure. A corner comes to nothing and then we see our first glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo. The world player of the year flies past Atletico full-back Miranda, whipping in a low cross from the left to force a corner. But team-mate Raphael Varane cannot hit the target.

Image source, AP

Raul Garcia is having some Friday night fun tonight. Now he just needs to take a goal home with him. He goes close again as he spins a first-time time shot from Juanfran's lay-off just away from Iker Casillas's far post. Anxious times for Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.

End to end stuff at the moment. I'm struggling to get my breath. Another Atleti chance as Koke steams into the Real penalty area and, just as he is about to pull the trigger, sees away right-back Daniel Carvajal nip in to stop him.

Atletico's Raul Garcia has been in the thick of the action tonight and here he is again. He tries a cheeky 'knock and run' around Real's Xabi Alonso - who cleans him out. Yellow card.

Oooh - almost an Atletico second goal. Koke, with that wand of a right foot, picks out the head of Raul Garcia from a free-kick on the right and the crossbar comes to Real's rescue. A couple of home players look to pounce on the rebound but Real keeper Iker Casillas reacts quickest to claw the ball away from his net. Top goalkeeping from the recently under-fire veteran.

You can't a get a good man down, they say. You certainly can't get Diego Simeone to sit down. The Atletico boss seems to have shifted a whole row of seated home fans so he can prowl around his new spot in the main stand on his feet.

The referee blows his whistle, Real striker Karim Benzema taps the ball to James Rodriguez and that means the second half is under way. Game on.

Here he is. Who? You know who. Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid superstar replaces Toni Kroos at the break.

After Mandzukic's opener for Atletico, only a 1-1 draw will send this tie into extra-time. However, history tells us that the Supercopa does not usually go all the way to that gut-wrenching spectacle we call a penalty shootout.

None of the previous 30 Supercopa finals have gone to penalties, although each of the last two ties have been decided by the away goals rule.

Last year Barcelona won a record 11th Super Cup on away goals as they drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid after Lionel Messi's late penalty miss.

Chaz in Derby: Madrid are undoubtedly missing Ronaldo. It just shows how important he is to them as they can't seem to break down this stubborn Atletico Madrid defence. But I can't help but wonder if Ronaldo makes a team of world class players tick, what does that make Ronaldo?

Chris in Surrey: Simeone's red card reminds me...How did Uefa only give him a one match ban for his ridiculous behaviour at the Champions League final. Laughable leniency for Spanish clubs as always.

Image source, Reuters

Mario Mandzukic's goal has been officially clocked at 81 seconds - the fastest Supercopa goal ever. Quick.

Having another look at the Atletico goal - route one football at its finest. You could swap Atletico's Miguel Angel Moya, Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic for Wimbledon trio Dave Beasant, Alan Cork and John Fashanu and no-one would be the wiser. Ex-Crazy Gang boss Dave Bassett will be sat somewhere watching with a beaming smile.

Stephen Milward, external: Anyone doubting if Bale is a match winner hasn't watched him for the last five years.

Peter Collins, external: I hope Real don't bring on Ronaldo. If he was fit he would have started, and they should try to protect their talisman.

Image source, PA

• Diego Simeone has been sent off in two of the last three matches against Real Madrid in all competitions.

• Cristiano Ronaldo, who starts on the bench tonight, has scored in three of his last four derbies against Atletico Madrid.

Image source, Getty Images

Play quickly switches to the other end as James Rodriguez flicks a teasing shot inches past the Atletico post on the stroke of half-time. That's almost the last action as referee David Fernandez blows for the break. Advantage Atletico.