Real Madrid aims to make history by becoming the first club to secure six UEFA Super Cup titles as they face Atalanta in Warsaw at midnight on Thursday.
Here’s our preview and prediction for the Real Madrid vs Atalanta showdown.
When is the UEFA Super Cup Final between Real Madrid and Atalanta?
15th August, Thursday from 12:30 am onwards.
Read More: Can Arsenal Secure the Premier League Title Without a Powerhouse No 9?
Real Madrid vs Atalanta: Match Preview
Real Madrid is set to chase a record sixth UEFA Super Cup victory in their clash with Italian side Atalanta at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday night. Currently tied with Barcelona and Milan at five Super Cup titles, a win would elevate them to the top spot.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team enters this match fresh off their 2023-24 UEFA Champions League triumph, where they secured a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley with second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior. This marked Ancelotti’s 13th trophy as Real Madrid’s head coach, and a win in the Super Cup would tie him with Miguel Muñoz’s record of 14 titles, the most in the club’s history. The Italian coach also has the opportunity to surpass Pep Guardiola’s record of four UEFA Super Cup titles.
Real Madrid enters this match on the back of a stellar 2023-24 season, having remained unbeaten in their last 26 matches across all competitions (W17 D9). This is their best unbeaten streak since January 2017 under Zinedine Zidane (G40 W30 D10). Their last defeat came in January 2024 against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey (4-2). The team has also bolstered its ranks this summer with the signing of French star Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé could make his competitive debut for the Spanish giants in this match. The last player to score on his debut for Real Madrid was Jude Bellingham against Athletic Club in La Liga in August 2023. Known for rising to big occasions, Mbappé has scored eight goals in his last 11 finals for club and country, including six in his last five: one in the Coupe de France in 2021, one in the UEFA Nations League in 2021, three in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and one in the Trophée des Champions in 2021.
Another player who thrives in high-pressure games is Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr. He has contributed to 10 goals in the 10 finals he has played for Real Madrid, scoring seven and assisting three. He found the back of the net in the last two finals, netting a hat-trick against Barcelona in the 2024 Spanish Super Cup and scoring in the UCL final against Borussia Dortmund last season.
Serie A side Atalanta is making its debut in the UEFA Super Cup after securing their first major European trophy with a 3-0 victory over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League final. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman starred with a hat-trick, marking the sixth time a hat-trick has been scored in a major UEFA final.
At 66 years and 117 days old, Atalanta’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini became the fourth-oldest manager to secure a major European trophy. He follows in the footsteps of Raymond Goethals (71 years, 231 days; 1993 UEFA Champions League), Jupp Heynckes (68 years, 16 days; 2013 UEFA Champions League), and Alex Ferguson (66 years, 142 days; 2008 UEFA Champions League). This Europa League victory marked Atalanta’s first final win under Gasperini, who had previously led the team to three Coppa Italia final defeats.
During the summer transfer window, Atalanta strengthened their attacking lineup by signing Charles De Ketelaere from Milan on a permanent deal—following his 14-goal performance during a loan spell last season—and acquiring Mateo Retegui from Genoa. The combined reported fee for these forwards is €56 million (£48 million). Alongside Ademola Lookman, this revamped attack could pose significant challenges to Real Madrid in the upcoming match.
Real Madrid vs Atalanta: Head-to-Head
This match will mark only the third competitive encounter between Real Madrid and Atalanta, following their meeting in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 during the 2020-21 season.
Real Madrid won both legs of that tie, securing a 1-0 victory in Bergamo with a goal from Ferland Mendy after Remo Freuler’s early red card, and then winning 3-1 at their temporary home, the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Real Madrid progressed to the semi-finals that season but were eventually eliminated by the tournament’s winners, Chelsea, over two legs.
The last time a Spanish club faced an Italian side in the UEFA Super Cup was in 2010, when Atlético Madrid defeated Internazionale 2-0 in Monaco.
Real Madrid vs Atalanta: Team News
Real Madrid
Mbappé is expected to make his debut, at least in some capacity, after his unveiling and late return to Madrid training following France’s run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The Frenchman was unveiled as a Madrid player last month but has yet to make his debut for the club, as he was given time off after participating in Euro 2024. However, there’s a strong possibility he could start in this match, potentially leading the attack with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. on the wings. Jude Bellingham, despite a limited pre-season due to the Euros, is also expected to start.
Since Madrid’s Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund, Nacho and Toni Kroos have left the club. However, Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni are strong candidates to step into the starting lineup in their place. Defender David Alaba will be the only likely absentee. Fellow summer signing Endrick is also set to be involved.
Atalanta
For Atalanta, Charles De Ketelaere’s transfer was made permanent earlier this summer, Ben Godfrey has joined from Everton, and Nicolo Zaniolo is on loan from Roma. Gianluca Scamacca will not be leading the attack due to a lengthy absence following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during pre-season. Teun Koopmeiners will not be participating, as Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has disclosed that the midfielder has missed training in an effort to secure a transfer to Juventus.
Ben Godfrey, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Ibrahim Sulemana are among the players who could make their debuts for Atalanta. “He already has an agreement, he feels stressed and has decided not to play or train with us anymore,” Gasperini said. “With this attitude he cannot be useful to the team, nor to his team-mates. The club therefore has taken a very firm line, because we feel blackmailed by this situation.”
Real Madrid vs Atalanta: Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy
- Midfielders: Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham
- Forwards: Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior
Atalanta Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Musso
- Defenders: Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac
- Midfielders: Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri
- Forwards: Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
Real Madrid vs Atalanta: Prediction
It’s hard to predict what to expect from Madrid at this point in the summer, but their track record in European finals speaks for itself. Real Madrid losing finals are a very occasion, so our prediction is for Real Madrid to win even though Atalanta will b a tough challenge.
Prediction: 2-1
