Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta: Mbappe gets debut goal as Los Blancos win Super Cup

By Sports Desk August 14, 2024

Kylian Mbappe started his Real Madrid career with a goal as Los Blancos beat Europa League holders Atalanta 2-0 in Warsaw, winning the UEFA Super Cup for a record-breaking sixth time.

Mbappe fired into the top-right corner following good work from Jude Bellingham to clinch victory for the Champions League winners after 68 minutes, nine minutes after Federico Valverde had opened the scoring.

The best chance of a tepid first half fell Madrid's way in stoppage time, with Rodrygo rattling the crossbar after taking in Vinicius Junior's delicate outside-of-the-boot pass.

Thibaut Courtois then made a full-stretch save to keep out Mario Pasalic's header shortly after the restart, and Madrid took full advantage of that reprieve by hitting the front just before the hour mark.

Vinicius drove to the byline on the left side of the area before cutting back for Valverde, who could not miss from almost directly beneath the crossbar.

Vinicius was then denied by Juan Musso when one-on-one, and Madrid's newfound swagger resulted in a debut goal for their latest Galactico. Mbappe hammered home after being picked out by Bellingham inside a crowded penalty area.

Mbappe is the first Madrid player to score on his competitive debut for the club since Bellingham did so against Athletic Bilbao 12 months ago, and the first to do so in the Super Cup since Marco Asensio versus Sevilla in 2016.

Data Debrief: Records for Madrid and Ancelotti

Madrid's victory was their sixth in the Super Cup, taking them clear of Milan and rivals Barcelona for the outright most in the competition's history.

Three of those wins have come under Ancelotti (2014, 2022 and 2024), who also oversaw triumphs for Milan in 2003 and 2007. 

His five Super Cup victories are the most of any coach, with Wednesday's win taking him clear of Pep Guardiola (four). 

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  • Real Madrid had to 'suffer' in Super Cup triumph, says Ancelotti Real Madrid had to 'suffer' in Super Cup triumph, says Ancelotti

    Carlo Ancelotti said his Real Madrid players "were suffering" during their record sixth UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta on Wednesday. 

    Ancelotti watched on as his side struggled in the opening exchanges, registering just three shots in the first-half with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.38. 

    Madrid's best chance in the first 45 minutes saw Rodrygo rattle the crossbar, but a much-improved display after the interval saw Federico Valverde and Kylian Mbappe strike to secure the win. 

    Ancelotti, who drew level with Miguel Munoz as the Madrid coach with the most titles (14), was delighted with the result, but acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter. 

    “It is an honour and a privilege to live these nights here," Ancelotti said. "We were suffering, fighting and winning too.

    “We suffered a bit in the first half, because Atalanta pressed a lot and play very well defensively. They won more duels than us and we had more difficulties.

    "The game opened up a bit in the second half, they felt tired and we had more space. With that space, Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappe are very dangerous.”

    Ancelotti's success in Warsaw was his fifth in the Super Cup, taking him clear of Pep Guardiola (four), with three of those titles coming with Los Blancos.

    But much of the noise surrounded Mbappe's debut, becoming the first Madrid player to score on his competitive debut for the club since Jude Bellingham did so against Athletic Bilbao 12 months ago. 

    Mbappe contributed 44 goals and 10 assists in his final season with Paris Saint-Germain and targeted a haul of 50 in his debut season in Madrid, with Ancelotti believing the Frenchman can surpass that total. 

    “He has the quality to score a lot of goals, more than 50," Ancelotti said after full-time.

    "We have to look for the balance of the team and today we had it, although in the first half the game was difficult. But the team played a great game defensively.”

    Madrid now turn their attention to the opening match of their 2024-25 La Liga campaign. Ancelotti and his players head to Son Moix on Sunday, where they will take on Mallorca.

  • 'I have no limit' – Mbappe targets 50 goals after scoring on Madrid debut 'I have no limit' – Mbappe targets 50 goals after scoring on Madrid debut

    Kylian Mbappe targeted a haul of 50 goals in his first season with Real Madrid after scoring on his debut in their UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta, declaring: "I have no limit".

    Mbappe joined Federico Valverde on the scoresheet as Champions League holders Madrid won the Super Cup for a record-breaking sixth time on Wednesday, beating La Dea 2-0.

    The former Paris Saint-Germain forward slammed into the top-right corner after being teed up by Jude Bellingham after 68 minutes in Warsaw, where Madrid were arguably unfortunate not to win by a greater margin.

    Having contributed 44 goals and 10 assists during his final campaign in France, Mbappe is hopeful of an even more impressive return in his debut season with Los Blancos. 

    "We're at Real Madrid, we have no limit, I have no limit," Mbappe told Movistar.

    "If I can score 50 goals, it's 50. But the most important thing is to win and improve as a team, because we're going to win as a team.

    "It was a great night. I've been waiting for this moment a long time, to play in this shirt, with this badge, for these fans. It's a great moment for me.

    "Winning a trophy is very important, we know that we always have to win. I'm very happy, for sure with the goal, for a forward like me, being decisive in my first game, but more importantly, it's a pleasure to play."

     

    Mbappe played as a central striker flanked by Brazil internationals Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, with Bellingham playing in a slightly deeper role than that he occupied in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    After Vinicius and Bellingham combined to tee up his goal, Mbappe said he was excited to develop alongside the two Ballon d'Or contenders. 

    "They're two great players," Mbappe said when asked about Vinicius and Bellingham. 

    "Here we have the best in every position. I'm happy to play with the entire squad we have, we'll improve for sure, me first of all, but today is a positive step."

  • Newcastle drawn away to Forest in EFL Cup second round Newcastle drawn away to Forest in EFL Cup second round

    Newcastle United will visit Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in the second round of the EFL Cup.

    Newcastle reached the final of this competition in 2022-23, also qualifying for the Champions League.

    But Eddie Howe's men narrowly missed out on European football ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, meaning they enter the EFL Cup at this early stage.

    The Magpies were handed one of the tougher possible draws, although they have won at the City Ground in each of the past two seasons. Newcastle and Forest will meet in Nottingham in the league in November.

    Forest have enjoyed the sides' recent cup encounters rather more, knocking Newcastle out at this stage in both 2017-18 and 2018-19.

    Elsewhere, Wednesday's draw, which was split into northern and southern sections, also pitted West Ham and Bournemouth against one another in a second all-Premier League tie.

    Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle are to head to fellow Championship outfit Watford, while Middlesbrough host Stoke City after making the semi-finals last term and then beating Leeds United in the first round.

    Rooney's former side Everton were drawn against Doncaster Rovers, the same opponents they defeated a year ago.

    Ties will be played the week commencing August 26.

    EFL Cup second-round draw in full:

    Coventry City v Oxford United
    Swansea City v Wycombe Wanderers
    Wimbledon v Ipswich Town
    Birmingham City v Fulham
    Watford v Plymouth Argyle
    West Ham v Bournemouth
    Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town
    Brighton and Hove Albion v Crawley Town
    Crystal Palace v Norwich City
    Cardiff City v Southampton
    Millwall v Leyton Orient
    Colchester United v Brentford
    Grimsby Town v Sheffield Wednesday
    Everton v Doncaster Rovers
    Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool
    Fleetwood Town v Rotherham United
    Shrewsbury Town v Bolton Wanderers
    Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United
    Barrow v Derby County
    Leicester City v Tranmere Rovers
    Middlesbrough v Stoke City
    Barnsley v Sheffield United
    Harrogate Town v Preston North End
    Walsall v Huddersfield Town
    Wolves v Burnley

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