Having scored on his Real Madrid debut, Kylian Mbappe had a “great night” as his team defeated Atalanta 2-0 to win the record sixth UEFA Super Cup.
On Wednesday in Warsaw, Kylian Mbappe had a “great night” as he scored on his Real Madrid debut to help his new team defeat Atalanta 2-0 and win the UEFA Super Cup for the record sixth time. After years of waiting to play for his ideal team, the French forward sensation finally joined Los Blancos this summer upon his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, and he celebrated his debut with a goal. After the Italian Europa League champions held their own in the first half, Fede Valverde broke the tie for the holders of the Champions League in the 59th minute with a close-range shot.
Madrid started to build momentum, and in the 68th minute, Mbappe scored a spectacular goal to secure the win after Jude Bellingham had spotted his run into space in the box.
Speaking good Spanish, Mbappe said to Movistar, “It was a great night. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, to play with this shirt, with this badge, for these fans.”
With Madrid’s victory, head coach Carlo Ancelotti tied previous Los Blancos coach Miguel Munoz for the most titles won as a club manager with 14.
This season, the Italian’s first priority is creating a system that would maximize the performance of his wide range of offensive players.
Consequently, Bellingham, an England international, did not play in the advanced position he started last season with such devastating goalscoring effect; instead, he was a member of the midfield trio.
Ancelotti told Movistar that Mbappe “has the quality to score a lot of goals.”
“What we have to look for is balance in the team — today we didn’t have that balance.”
In a close first half, Mbappe’s best opportunity came in the fifteenth minute, but Isak Hien expertly stopped his attempt from the middle of the box.
After shocking Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final the previous season, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta team made their Super Cup debut. Eder Militao nearly gave them the lead by heading Marten de Roon’s cross over his own bar.
Bellingham took a hard touch to control a deft pass from Vinicius and was cautioned for a late push on Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso during a raid forward from midfield.
Vinicius sent Rodrygo up, and he clipped the top of Atalanta’s crossbar right before halftime.
At the beginning of the second half, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was injured for the majority of the previous season, made an incredible one-handed save to deflect a header by Mario Pasalic.
Before the hour, Valverde of Real Madrid broke the tie with a close-range tap-in as Atalanta’s defense fretted over Mbappe’s increased freedom of movement.
Vinicius, who was becoming more and more important, feed Bellingham, who then sliced the pass across the goal for the Uruguayan midfielder to score.
Valverde declared himself “tremendously proud” while sporting the number eight shirt left vacant by Toni Kroos’ retirement this summer.
“It’s motivating to inherit the number of a player I admire a lot, I dedicate the goal to him and to my wife,” said Valverde.
When Vinicius was let through on goal, Musso knocked over his attempt, which would have doubled Madrid’s advantage.
As Madrid attempted a second, Swedish defender Hien stopped Bellingham, and Musso then stopped the former Borussia Dortmund player.
At the end, Mbappe scored a deadly finish after Bellingham, who was chosen player of the match, saw the Frenchman’s deft move and kept an attack alive.
The Madrid supporters applauded the 25-year-old striker after Ancelotti took him off in the 83rd minute—possibly the first of many.
Mbappe stated that he anticipated getting better in the upcoming weeks. Real Mallorca will be Madrid’s first La Liga opponent on Saturday.
“I am sure we will get better and me first of all — but today is a positive step,” said the striker.
According to Rodrygo, Ancelotti instructed the forwards to change positions regularly, which was shown in the second half.
The Brazilian told Movistar, “The coach asked us to go changing positions a lot, or staying apart.”
“They were man marking, so we had to move and that’s what happened during the game.”
Four Reportedly Arrested After Spanish Teen Star Lamine Yamal’s Father Stabbed
