Luka Modric of Real Madrid celebrates after the game against Athletic Bilbao on January 16, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: VCG

Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup by beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Sunday as Luka Modric and a Karim Benzema penalty secured a comfortable victory in Saudi Arabia.

Modric's curling finish toward the end of the first half and Benzema's strike early in the second sealed the win for Madrid, who claimed their first trophy in Carlo Ancelotti's second spell as coach.

Athletic had beaten La Liga ­champions Atletico Madrid to reach the final but were well beaten at the King Fahd Stadium by a slick, ­organized Real Madrid side, that have now lost only once in 20 matches.

They had brief hope in the 87th minute when they were awarded a penalty and Eder Militao was sent off, but Raul Garcia missed and Madrid's win was safe.

Ancelotti's side face Elche on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey and Paris ­Saint-Germain next month in the last 16 of the Champions League. 

"It's an impulse, an impulse to keep going," said Ancelotti. "We won't have time to celebrate, there is another competition play in a few days." 

Modric continued his brilliant form by scoring the opener, a goal that makes him the oldest goalscorer in Spanish Super Cup history at 36.

The 33-year-old Marcelo, meanwhile, came on for the last few minutes, before lifting his 23rd trophy at Real Madrid, equalling the haul of Paco Gento as the most successful player in the club's history. 

"He's one of the greats, a legend of this club," said club president Florentino Perez.

Ancelotti now has five trophies as Real Madrid coach, adding a Spanish Super Cup to the Copa del Rey, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup he won during his first spell.

It was a 21st title of his managerial career, also his first trophy since winning the 2017 German Super Cup with Bayern Munich, four and a half years ago.

"Yes, I won many trophies but It's been a long time since my last one," Ancelotti told a news conference.

"You can never get tired of winning. It's beautiful, something you enjoy a lot, watching the players happy, celebrating."

The 62-year-old was in charge when Real won their 10th Champions League trophy in 2014.

He only needs to win La Liga to be the first manager in the club's history to win all six major trophies available. Real lead La Liga with 49 points from 21 games, five ahead of second-placed Sevilla.

Added to his five trophies with Real Madrid, Ancelotti won three as manager of Bayern, one with Paris Saint-Germain, three with Chelsea, eight with Milan and one with Juventus.

The Spanish Super Cup stayed in Spain in 2021 because of the pandemic but has returned to Saudi Arabia as part of an agreement until 2029 that will earn the Spanish football federation around 30 million euros a year.