Already lifting a first piece of silverware of the season, Real Madrid were crowned Super Cup champions as they claimed a 2-0 victory against Atalanta in Warsaw.
Breaking a string of records prior to the summer break as they were completed both a domestic and European sweep, Los Blancos appear to have only continued from where they left off back in May.
With all eyes falling on Warsaw on Wednesday night, Federico Valverde opened the scoring just before the hour-mark as Carlo Ancelotti’s side took a deserved lead.
While Croatian record-breaker Luka Modric might have become the most decorated player in Madrid history as the ex-Tottenham midfielder claimed a 27th piece of silverware, it was Los Blancos’ new superstar that stole all of the headlines here.
Watching French skipper Kylian Mbappe sweep home in the 68th-minute and record a maiden Madrid goal following his sensational summer move from PSG, Ancelotti’s squad have created a real platform to build on.
Although Atalanta might have arrived in Warsaw look to collect a heavyweight scalp, La Dea largely struggled to find any kind of fluidity in what was a showpiece event from the National Stadium.
On a night when Madrid got their hands on a sixth Super Cup crown and laid down an early marker, we have taken a look at the main talking points.
Los Blancos lay down an early marker in Warsaw
Making real history last season as they completed an iconic domestic and European sweep, Real Madrid only further underlined their status as Europe’s ultimate poster boys.
Tearing up the record books and claiming a remarkable 15th Champions League title on June 1st as they secured a 2-0 victory against German giants Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, Ancelotti’s men marked their return from the summer break with the mood in their camp at a red-hot high.
Losing just one of their 38 La Liga appearances last season and eventually holding a 10-point buffer over arch-rivals Barcelona in the final standings, the former AC Milan boss will be calling on his squad to use Wednesday’s dominant display as a platform to build on.
Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 victory against Premier League heavyweights Chelsea over in the United States, Madrid have also gained a reputation for their defensive steel.
Coming away unscathed from the National Stadium in midweek, Los Blancos have recorded five clean sheets in their six appearances across all competitions on either side of the summer break.
Mbappe gets his Madrid tenure off to a dream start
Much like Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia back in the winter of 2022, Mbappe’s arrival in the French capital this summer sent shockwaves across the footballing globe.
Officially unveiled in front of a packed Bernabeu last month, the future Ballon d’Or winner is the latest European icon to arrive in Madrid and couldn’t have got his tenure in the Spanish capital to a sensational start on Wednesday night.
Sweeping home midway through the second-half after a wonderful assist from England international Jude Bellingham, Mbappe is the latest jewel in Ancelotti’s crown and Madrid’s new number nine will steal plenty of La Liga’s headlines this season.
Leaving the French giants this summer following the end of his current deal in Paris, Mbappe is PSG’s record goal scorer, with 256 goals for the Ligue 1 side.
With the 25-year-old making it clear that he is desperate to get his hands on a long-awaited maiden Champions League trophy, the French skipper joins what is a remarkable attacking roster at the Bernabeu.
Always a tough test for Atalanta
While Atalanta might have travelled over to Dublin back on May 22nd pencilled in as a real landslide underdog when they met Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League final, La Dea sprung an almighty upset.
Storming their way to an iconic 3-0 romp against the German champions and inspired by Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick in the Irish capital, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men were looking to collect another sensational scalp here.
Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Bundesliga returners St. Pauli, the Bergamo-based outfit have failed to find any kind of stability during their summer plans.
However, booking a lucrative Champions League return following their historic European exploits back in May, Atalanta will be looking to dust themselves down quickly as they open the new Serie A campaign next week.
Looking to secure another top-four finish among Italy’s elite this season, La Dea get proceedings underway on Monday night when they travel to Lecce.
Match Report
Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Subs: Modric, Guler, Vazquez, Ceballos, Diaz
Atalanta: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Ruggeri, Ederson, de Roon, Zappacosta, Pasalic, De Ketelaere, Lookman
Subs: Manzoni, Retegui, Palestra, Bakker, Godfrey
Goals: Valverde (59’), Mbappe (68’)
Yellow Cards: Real Madrid: Bellingham, Vinicius Junior – Atalanta: Djimsiti, Ederson
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Sandro Scharer
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