FULL TIME
2-0
MATCH PREVIEW & MORE INFO
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Atalanta possible starting lineup: Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
Match Preview: Real Madrid vs. Atalanta
The first slice of European stardom for the 2024-25 season is up for grabs on Wednesday evening, as Real Madrid and Atalanta BC clash in Warsaw in the latest edition of the UEFA Super Cup. Los Blancos added Champions League title number 15 to their ever-growing collection last season, while their Italian foes unexpectedly slayed a hitherto invincible Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.
As chance after chance went begging for Borussia Dortmund during the 2023-24 Champions League final under the Wembley arch, it became clear that the German giants would regret those wasted opportunities against Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid, whose continental nous is second to none. True enough, the men in white taught Dortmund a harsh lesson in ruthlessness through Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior in the second half to regain their rightful European Cup trophy, one of three crowns they won in 2023-24 alongside the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup. A last-16 exit in the Copa del Rey was the only blemish on Ancelotti's Bernabeu notebook, and 'Don Carlo' has elected to continue in the Real hotseat for at least one more season, despite previous claims of an agreement with the Brazil national team.
Atalanta's Journey to the Super Cup
While Real Madrid's current total of five UEFA Super Cup crowns puts them at the top of the charts alongside their two recent conquerors in Barcelona and Milan, Wednesday's battle in Warsaw will represent Atalanta's baptism in the continental curtain-raiser after their Ademola Lookman-inspired Europa League triumph. Few gave Gian Piero Gasperini's men any hope of trumping Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen juggernaut after their stunning success over pre-tournament favorites Liverpool. Yet Lookman delivered an astounding hat-trick to clinch La Dea's inaugural European title and their first trophy in 61 years.
Atalanta's victory complemented a fourth-placed Serie A finish and a Coppa Italia runners-up medal. They also have a meeting with Copa Sudamericana winners LDU Quito to come in the UEFA-CONMEBOL Club Challenge, in addition to participating in next year's Supercoppa Italiana. However, Gasperini's men have posted a disappointing set of pre-season results, including a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar followed by heavy losses to Parma (4-1) and FC St. Pauli (3-0). Nevertheless, as Dublin witnessed a few months ago, Atalanta can turn up the heat when a European trophy is on the line.
Team News and Expectations
In terms of team news, Real Madrid will be without experienced defender David Alaba, who is recovering from a lengthy ACL injury. Eduardo Camavinga is also nursing a training ground knock, but the starting XI in Warsaw should feature Kylian Mbappe, who is now fully integrated with the group following his post-Euro 2024 holiday. Finalists Carvajal and Jude Bellingham are expected to be part of a near full-strength lineup from Ancelotti, who has talked up the potential of young players Endrick and Arda Guler but likely won't start them.
Mbappe's arrival has led to speculation surrounding the futures of Brazilian wingers Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, the latter of whom reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League. Both are expected to support their French teammate in midweek. On the other hand, Atalanta have made several marquee attacking signings, concluding a permanent deal for Charles De Ketelaere and capturing Mateo Retegui from Genoa. They have also added Ben Godfrey, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Ibrahim Sulemana to their ranks while parting ways with some veteran players.
Retegui could very well make his competitive debut up front, as Gianluca Scamacca is out for months with an ACL injury. Giorgio Scalvini is on the long road to recovery from a similar problem but should return before the end of the calendar year. Midfield maestro Ederson remains at the Gewiss Stadium despite links with several Premier League clubs. Meanwhile, Teun Koopmeiners, who has drawn interest from Juventus and Liverpool, has handed in a transfer request and will not be involved in the Super Cup, alongside Zaniolo, Rafael Toloi, and El Bilal Toure, who are all out for various reasons.