4 Best European Super Cup Finals In History

The European Super Cup is contested between the winners of the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) and the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup and Cup Winner's Cup). The victors win a trophy, but the match itself is often little more than a glorified friendly, a slightly more glamorous version of the Community Shield in England, or the various Super Cups held in other European nations.

But sometimes we get a rip-roaring spectacle featuring two of the best teams in world football, slugging it out in the season's curtain-raiser. Tonight's game between Madrid rivals Real and Atletico has the potential to be such a match, but first, let's have a look at some of the best games in the history of this illustrious fixture.

#1 1977, Liverpool 7-1 Hamburg (agg)

Up until 1998, the Super Cup was played over two legs, so 7-1 might not seem like such an impressive scoreline. But when you consider that the first leg was drawn 1-1 in Germany, it becomes clear that the game held at Anfield must have been pretty special, and it was. A hattrick from Terry McDermott along with a goal from club legend Kenny Dalglish helped the Reds to a 6-0 win and their first ever Super Cup title.

#2 2012, Atletico Madrid 4-1 Chelsea

Chelsea claimed the biggest trophy in their history with their penalty shootout win over Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League. A late equalizer from Didier Drogba was followed by the Ivorian scoring the winning penalty with the last kick of his spell at the London club. Truly the stuff that dreams are made of for their fans.

Colombian Falcao celebrates his win

But they couldn't keep up their European dominance in the Super Cup as Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid produced a scintillating display to defeat Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea. A stunning hat-trick from Radamel Falcao, enjoying the prime of his career with the Spanish side, along with a goal from center back Miranda was more than enough to beat a shell-shocked Chelsea, who couldn't replicate the defensive performance that earned them their win over Bayern.

Falcao's hat-trick remains the only triple ever scored in a Super Cup final

#3 2000, Galatasaray 2 - 1 Real Madrid (aet)

Galatasaray celebrate

A Real Madrid side featuring the likes of Iker Casillas, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Raul had swept all comers to claim their eighth European Cup title, but they couldn't cope with the Turkish giants on this occasion. Galatasaray, who had denied Arsene Wenger his first shot at European glory in the UEFA Cup final, produced an inspired display to defeat Vicente Del Bosque's Galacticos.

Brazilian striker Mario Jardel, on his debut and in his only season in Turkey, scored a penalty to open the scoring, before bagging his second to complete the victory. Indeed the victory was completed as soon as his shot hit the back of the net, as this was the only Super Cup final to have been decided by the golden goal. Galatasaray had become the first Turkish side to win a European trophy with their UEFA Cup triumph, and quickly became the first to win two with their famous win over Real.

#4 2015, Barcelona 5 - 4 Sevilla (aet)

Messi came within inches of scoring a rare hat-trick of free kicks

Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final to claim their 4th title in 9 years, and Sevilla triumphed over Ukranian's Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for the second of three consecutive Europa League wins.

Ever Banega gave Sevilla the lead in the 3rd minute with a sublime free-kick, but their lead was cancelled out four minutes later by a similar goal from Messi. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored another free kick in the 16th minute to give the Spanish champions the lead for the first time. The spree of goals ended just before halftime when right back Rafinha gave Barcelona a two-goal advantage. The match continued much in the same vein after the break, but with the roles reversed, as Sevilla won out 3-1 in the second 45 to tie the game at 4-4.

Messi had almost completed his hat-trick of free-kicks in the 89th minute, but his effort smacked off the crossbar and the game went to extra time. Winger Pedro netted what would turn out to be the winner and Barcelona claimed victory in the highest-scoring Super Cup Final in history