Mbappé in the Spotlight for the UEFA Super Cup
On Wednesday, all eyes will be on Warsaw, Poland, for Kylian Mbappé's debut with Real Madrid as they face Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. This will be Mbappé's first match with the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid signed Mbappé in early June on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. He has signed a five-year contract with the Champions League winners from last season.
Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League final last June, while Atalanta won the Europa League with an exciting 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, thanks to a historic hat-trick from their Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman.
Real Madrid did not make many signings this summer, focusing solely on securing Mbappé, whom they had pursued for years. The French player did not participate in the friendly matches held in the United States due to resting after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with France, where they lost 2-1 to Spain.
Madrid hopes to win the UEFA Super Cup for the sixth time, aiming to set a new record as the most successful club in the competition, currently tied with Barcelona and Milan.
Despite Atalanta's remarkable Europa League campaign last season, which included eliminating Liverpool in the quarter-finals, many did not expect coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side to defeat Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Atalanta claimed their first European title, which was also their first major trophy, domestic or continental, in 61 years.
Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.