Following a fairly average pre-season, with just one win out of three, Real Madrid return to official business as they take on the Italian side Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.
The Merengues can kickstart their 2024-25 season with a trophy, and their squad depth and quality certainly makes them the favourites to win the game tonight.
However, Real Madrid were dealt a blow in their final training session in Warsaw as Eduardo Camavinga suffered a knock and was ruled out of this fixture.
Still, Los Blancos fans will have a lot to be excited about for this game. For instance, Kylian Mbappe is in line to make his debut for the Spanish side while Jude Bellingham is expected to take more of a central role to play as opposed to the attacking role he mostly played in the last season.
Dani Carvajal – fresh off an outstanding season with club and country – will make a return to the lineup along with Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham.
Carlo Ancelotti tried multiple attacking trios in the training sessions prior to travelling to Poland but the one that arguably stood out was the one with a three-man line of Mbappe, Vinícius and Rodrygo.
Still, the Merengues cannot take anything for granted as Gasperini’s Atalanta were also brilliant in the Europa League final as they ended Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak in a 3-0 drubbing.
The wrecker in chief for that match Ademola Lookman will feature in the starting lineup of the Italian side. Gianluca Scammaca suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out for most part of the season and, as a result, Mateo Retegui was signed as his replacement.
Ancelotti acknowledged the fact in the pre-match press conference that Atalanta pose a threat and it would be a tough game for the Spaniards. Both Italian managers also happen to be familiar with each other, having worked at Juventus together.
The reigning European champions will battle it out in Poland as Real Madrid look to begin their season with a trophy while Atalanta would be eager to shock the world by upsetting the Merengues.
