Chelsea ride out Eurostars

A bumpy pitch full of pot holes, a small ground barely three-quarters full yet still teaming with UEFA executives and a match which only came fitfully to life - welcome to the European Super Cup.

Apparently on offer in the supposed showpiece game in Monaco between Cup Winners' Cup holders Chelsea and Champions League winners Real Madrid was the honour of being installed as Europe's top club.

In reality, it was a largely drab encounter enlightened only by accomplished performances from French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf and his Spanish opposite number Fernando Hierro, who both hit the post.

And when Chelsea's eventually deserved winner finally came from substitute Gustavo Poyet with nine minutes left, it was in many ways only because Brian Laudrup had not been allowed to make his debut as a replacement for Gianfranco Zola.

The Dane was stripped and ready to go on the sidelines, with Zola's number ready to be shown, when the Italian carved out an opening for Poyet at the second attempt.

The Uruguay international made no mistake as he drove the ball into the corner of the net past German keeper Bodo Illgner.

Manager Gianluca Vialli will be annoyed that two of his players - Albert Ferrer, for a foul, and Celestine Babayaro, who stupidly did not retreat for a free kick - received yellow cards which will count when their European campaign starts for real. But at least the victory will replenish the team's confidence after just one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures.

It may have only been the Super Cup but the Chelsea players were certainly not complaining as they jubilantly celebrated their fourth trophy in less than three years.

Chelsea: De Goey, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Desailly, Duberry, Ferrer, Le Saux, Wise, Di Matteo (Poyet 64), Zola (Laudrup 83), Casiraghi (Flo 90). Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Lambourde, Newton, Morris. Booked: Ferrer, Babayaro. Goals: Poyet 81.

Real Madrid: Illgner, Panucci, Carlos, Hierro, Sanchis, Redondo, Raul, Mijatovic (Jarni 73), Seedorf, Sabio, Karembeu (Morientes 57). Subs Not Used: Contreras, Ivan Campo, Guti, Jaime, Fernando-Sanz. Booked: Karembeu, Morientes.

Referee: M Batta (France).