Zinedine Zidane's men came good yet again with a major prize at stake to show they have moved on since the Portuguese left Los Blancos back in 2013.
Real Madrid have done it again. Despite an indifferent pre-season in which they failed to win a single match on tour in the United States, Los Blancos have kicked off the new campaign with yet another trophy by beating Manchester United 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup.
Jose Mourinho was right: Real really are on another level.
"They had a period of dominancy in the first half," Mourinho - who has never beaten Madrid in a competitive match - said after the game. "We had a period of dominancy in the second half. We gave them a good fight. My boys leave disappointed but optimistic and proud."
"I'm content; we all are," was Zidane's reaction. "We play to win these kinds of games, they are important. We played a great game. We suffered a little bit at the end of the second half but we played with character.
"It was difficult at the end. They put us in a bit a difficulty with the long balls but we did well."
So, while United made a game of it in the end and missed chances, Madrid were good for their win when it mattered most to show that, even after a poor pre-season, they have moved on since Mourinho's days.
Up next: Barcelona over two legs in the Spanish Supercopa and the chance to win yet another trophy.