Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: What the Spanish Super Cup Means for Los Blancos

It was said to not have mattered by Jose Mourinho, and yet it appeared to matter a lot for his team.

"Winning the Supercopa and beating Barcelona is not important to me," professed the Real Madrid skipper on Sunday.  But three days later it was shown to have been an important win for his players.

Perhaps had the win been a little simpler, a little more routine—both of which seemed inevitable with Madrid cruising in the first half, up 2-0 and a man—the celebration would have been a bit more dull or anti-climactic. 

Nevertheless, this wasn't just about a win, it was about "winning"—a noun, an adjective (as in, "Real Madrid are a "winning team"), and, most of all, a verb. 

Winning isn't just what Madrid does best.  It's what they do.  Period.

It's not what the team did at home in the opener against Valencia, nor is it what they did away in the second contest against Getafe.  Those matches were ugly, even horrific; it's as if Madrid was a shadow of itself. 

And so now a new season begins for Real Madrid.  In a title race often decided by the faintest of margins, there's no doubt that Madrid or Barcelona would trade the Spanish Super Cup trophy for a mere point. 

Finding oneself a few games into the season is costly in La Liga, especially when you're racing against a team like Barcelona.  Real Madrid will have to hope that they will not pay for that lesson.

Still, Mourinho looked pleased, and his team looked pleased.  The season is long.  Points will be dropped.

The win, as difficult as it was—as difficult as it shouldn't have been—said to the fans that Madrid are back to doing what they belong doing.

Winning.