Kylian Mbappe, Photo Credit: Thomas Hindle, Getty images
Real Madrid’s new era under Kylian Mbappe has begun with a bang. The former Paris Saint-Germain star made a stunning debut for Los Blancos, scoring a goal that helped his team secure a 2-0 victory over Europa League champions Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on Wednesday night.
This win marks Real Madrid’s first silverware of the season and sets the stage for what could be a dominant year for the Spanish giants.
Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid has been highly anticipated, and he did not disappoint. After a slow start, the French forward found the back of the net in the second half, sealing the win for his team. “Mbappe was born to be a Galactico,” one commentator remarked, reflecting the excitement surrounding his debut.
Real Madrid’s victory was not just about Mbappe, though. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo also played crucial roles in the win. Although the team struggled to create chances in the first half, they came alive after the break. Vinicius Jr. set up the first goal, dancing down the wing before cutting the ball back to Federico Valverde, who tapped it into an empty net.
“Vinicius blew the game open just before the hour mark,” said one observer, highlighting the Brazilian’s impact on the match. Mbappe added the second goal just nine minutes later, smashing a pass from Bellingham into the top corner.
Real Madrid’s defense also played a vital role in the win. Thibaut Courtois, the team’s goalkeeper, made several key saves, including one spectacular stop just after halftime. Antonio Rudiger was a rock at the back, ensuring that Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman had little joy throughout the match.
The victory wasn’t without its challenges, though. Real Madrid’s attack struggled to gel in the first half, with Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo finding it difficult to create clear chances. Rodrygo came closest to scoring before the break, hitting the crossbar with a powerful shot.
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s manager, made several substitutions in the second half to freshen up his team. Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, Lucas Vazquez, and Arda Guler all came off the bench to help see out the win. Ancelotti’s tactics, which included a highly attacking setup, paid off in the end, but not without some nervous moments.
“We were very poor for 45 minutes, but came alive after the break,” Ancelotti admitted after the match. “This team is going to be scary this year.”
With this win, Real Madrid has set the tone for what could be an exceptional season. The combination of Mbappe’s goal-scoring prowess, Vinicius Jr.’s creativity, and the solid defense led by Courtois and Rudiger makes Los Blancos a formidable force in European football. The rest of the football world will be watching closely as the Mbappe era at Real Madrid continues to unfold.