After beating Atalanta BC, an Italian team, 2-0 in Wednesday night's UEFA Super Cup match, Real Madrid became the most successful team in the tournament's history.
After a two-goal victory over Atalanta in Warsaw, the Champions League holders surpassed Clasico rivals Barcelona. They took sole possession of the UEFA Super Cup with their five trophies entering the match.
The game-winning goal came in the 59th minute when Federico Valverde headed in a low cross from Vinicius Junior and finished it with a close-range finish.
Thibaut Courtois produced a fantastic stop to deny Mario Pasalic's header early in the second half after Rodrygo had hit the crossbar late in the first half. However, Valverde scored first, and in the 68th minute, Kylian Mbappe scored on his debut to make it 2-0.
Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid team is already trophy-less for the 2024–25 season despite the Spanish champions' strong second-half performance.
In his debut for Real Madrid, Mbappe scores.
As predicted, Mbappe was named to Real Madrid's starting lineup. This was the French international's first game back for the club after a lengthy layoff following Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham, who started last term as a number 10, dropped into a deeper position as the 25-year-old began through the center, with Vinicius to the left and Rodrygo to the right.
On the other hand, Mbappe and Vinicius switched positions frequently in the first half.
In the fifteenth minute, Mbappe had his first significant opportunity, meeting a cross from Dani Carvajal; however, a Napoli defender stopped his fast-moving shot.
It was a promising debut for the ex-Monaco youth, but the attacker finally got his chance in the 68th minute when he superbly fired a shot into the back of the net from within the box to almost secure the trophy for Real Madrid.
With Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham as an offensive unit, it's hard to fathom how teams will contain Real Madrid's new hero in the number nine jersey this season.
Hero of the Game Bellingham takes the front stage in a profound new role
As an attacking midfielder behind Vinicius and Rodrygo, 21-year-old Bellingham made 42 appearances for Real Madrid last season, where he scored 23 goals and recorded 13 assists.
Even though it's doubtful that the Englishman will score that many goals this season, he proved on Wednesday that he can be an essential contributor from a deeper midfield position.
In addition to setting up Mbappe to double Real Madrid's advantage, Bellingham was also involved in Valverde's goal. Vinicius found the midfielder, who in turn set up Valverde.
Although he received a yellow card for a foul on Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso in the 35th minute, the midfielder started the second half on the right foot and kept improving. He curled a shot just over the crossbar.
Bellingham, a teenager from Birmingham City, nearly scored in the 62nd minute with a deflected shot. Still, Musso, who had before produced an impressive save to stop a goal from Vinicius, somehow stopped the ex-Birmingham City player.
Having avoided injury in the UEFA Super Cup, Real Madrid will turn their focus to La Liga this coming Sunday night in their first match of the new season against Mallorca. The only players not participating in the game are Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba.
Despite their slow start to Tuesday's warmup, Ancelotti's squad appears to be a formidable opponent in both La Liga and the Champions League this season.
Meanwhile, Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta will be looking to repeat as Serie A runners-up from last season when they face Lecce in Monday night's opening match.
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