Yes, THAT game. The one where Kylian Mbappe scored his debut goal after joining Real Madrid. In early June this year it was officially confirmed that the French forward and the captain of the France national team will be joining Los Blancos on a free transfer after his contract with his then-current club Paris Saint Germain expired. Mbappe himself wrote on X (former Twitter) that joining Real is like a dream come true for him.
Yet, his first game in the white uniform of the Spanish team proved rather frustrating for the fans who were all set to see their favourite score his first goal. Instead, the game with Mallorca ended in a draw 1:1, and Mbappe didn’t get a chance to put the ball in the opponent’s net.
So naturally, everyone was looking forward to the UEFA Super Cup where Real Madrid would meet the Italian Atalanta. This time around the fans weren’t disappointed. But before we get into the game and the famous score by Mbappe, let’s take a look at all the aspects that made the game.
UEFA Super Cup Real – Atalanta: Before the Game
With its 49th edition played this year, UEFA Super Cup is just one championship away from a big anniversary. The 2024 UEFA Super Cup was held at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. As per the rules, the current holders of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League cups faced each other on the field for the right to take the Super Cup home. The match took place on 14 August, 2024.
Sandro Schärer was appointed as referee for the match, with three assistants joining him on the field, while Bastian Dankert would act as the video assistant referee, with two assistants on his side.
The two teams coming together were Real Madrid (Spain) and Atalanta (Italy). The Bergamo team earned its right to claim the 2024 Super Cup after they won 3-0 against Bayer Leverkusen on 22 May 2024 and became the champions of the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League. Los Blancos appeared on the field in the capacity of the winners of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, having defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on 1 June, 2024.
While this is the first time for Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, Real had previously participated eight times — and won five Cups: in 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2022.
Real Madrid was represented on the field with the following players:
- GK 1 Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
- RB 2 Dani Carvajal (Spain)
- CB 3 Éder Militão (Brazil)
- CB 22 Antonio Rüdiger (Germany)
- LB 23 Ferland Mendy (France)
- CM 8 Federico Valverde (Uruguay)
- CM 14 Aurélien Tchouaméni (France)
- RW 11 Rodrygo (Brazil)
- AM 5 Jude Bellingham (England)
- LW 7 Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
- CF 9 Kylian Mbappé (France)
The following players were named as substitutes:
- GK 13 Andriy Lunin (Ukraine)
- GK 26 Fran González (Spain)
- DF 18 Jesús Vallejo (Spain)
- DF 20 Fran García (Spain)
- DF 31 Jacobo Ramón (Spain)
- MF 6 Eduardo Camavinga (France)
- MF 10 Luka Modrić (Croatia)
- MF 15 Arda Güler (Turkey)
- MF 17 Lucas Vázquez (Spain)
- MF 19 Dani Ceballos (Spain)
- MF 21 Brahim Díaz (Morocco)
- FW 16 Endrick (Brazil)
Atalanta walked onto the field in the following composition:
- GK 1 Juan Musso (Argentina)
- CB 19 Berat Djimsiti (Albania)
- CB 4 Isak Hien (Sweden)
- CB 23 Sead Kolašinac (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- RM 77 Davide Zappacosta (Italy)
- CM 15 Marten de Roon (Netherlands)
- CM 13 Éderson (Brazil)
- LM 22 Matteo Ruggeri (Italy)
- AM 8 Mario Pašalić (Croatia)
- CF 17 Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium)
- CF 11 Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
The following players were named as Atalanta substitutes:
- GK 29 Marco Carnesecchi (Italy)
- GK 31 Francesco Rossi (Italy)
- DF 5 Ben Godfrey (England)
- DF 20 Mitchel Bakker (Netherlands)
- DF 27 Marco Palestra (Italy)
- DF 40 Pietro Comi (Italy)
- DF 41 Pietro Tornaghi (Italy)
- MF 6 Ibrahim Sulemana (Ghana)
- MF 25 Federico Cassa (Italy)
- MF 44 Alberto Manzoni (Italy)
- FW 32 Mateo Retegui (Italy)
- FW 45 Dominic Vavassori (Italy)
UEFA Super Cup Real – Atalanta: Match Review
The first half went pretty uneventful, save for a couple of shots. Real spent some time trying to find their game against the Italian team. Marten de Roon’s attempt at the Spanish goal went through Éder Militão and ended up on the crossbar. Another interesting attempt came from Militão’s compatriot Rodrygo from inside the penalty area, but it too fell flat.
In total, Real Madrid attempted 3 shots, while Atalanta managed 2. Los Blancos remained in possession of the ball for 56% of the time during the first half. They also committed 8 fouls and earned two yellow cards: one for Jude Bellingham at the 35 minute mark and another one for Vinícius Júnior at the 42 minute mark. In turn, Atalanta committed 11 fouls, with Brazilian Éderson earning a yellow card as early as the ninth minute. Each team made one corner kick during the first half.
The game changed in the second half, with Real seemingly having found their pace and coach Carlo Ancelotti adjusting the strategy for the team. In the 59th minute Federico Valverde sent the ball right into Atalanta’s goal after receiving it from Vinícius Júnior. Atalanta’s goalkeeper Juan Musso managed to save another attack from the Brazilian and one more from Jude Bellingham, until Kylian Mbappe turned the score into 2-0, teed up by Bellingham, at the 68 minute mark.
A total of 10 and 5 shots were made during the second half by Real and Atalanta respectively. The Italian team stayed in possession of the ball 51% of the time. Los Blancos committed 4 fouls, while Atalanta committed 8. The only yellow card during the second half went to Berat Djimsiti. No red cards were issued during the entire length of the match. His shining performance on the field earned Jude Bellingham the title of the Man of the Match.
Taking the 2024 UEFA Super Cup home is a little more for Real Madrid than just another victory to their credit. Until this game, the team was in a three way tie with Milan and Barcelona, each of them having won the UEFA Super Cup five times. This being Real’s sixth cup, they officially set a new record.
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