Real Madrid vs Atalanta

Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy sets the stage for a mouth-watering UEFA Super Cup showdown between Real Madrid and Atalanta.

Vying for a record-breaking sixth UEFA Super Cup title, which would separate them from AC Milan and Barcelona, reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid come into proceedings as overwhelming favorites. Carlo Ancelotti’s overachieving squad has received a massive boost ahead of their ninth UEFA Super Cup appearance (W5, L3), with superstar forward Kylian Mbappe set to make his Los Blancos debut in Warsaw. Los Merengues haven’t lost a competitive fixture since crashing out of the Copa Del Rey in extra time against Atletico Madrid in January (W18, D8), culminating with a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Champions League final. Furthermore, the 15-time European champions haven’t lost inside 90 minutes since Atletico beat them in September 2023, underscoring their tag as significant pre-match favorites.

In the meantime, Atalanta tore Bayer Leverkusen apart in last season’s Europa League final, knocking the Germans down from a European-record 51 unbeaten games straight with an emphatic 3-0 win to end a 61-year title drought. Fresh off lifting only their second major trophy, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men head to Warsaw, keen to upset the odds as the 41st different side to feature in the UEFA Super Cup. However, La Dea must defy the recent tradition of this fixture, with two of the last three debutants ending up on the losing side. Adding to Atalanta’s pessimism, they’ve lost Gianluca Scamacca to injury, while standout midfielder Teun Koopmeiners rejects to play for the club after agreeing on personal terms with Juventus.