Mbappe strikes on debut as Madrid beat Atalanta in UEFA Super Cup
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP)
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Kylian Mbappe struck on his Real Madrid debut to help his new side
claim a record sixth UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Atalanta on Wednesday
in Warsaw.
The superstar French forward has waited years to play for his
dream club and after finally signing for Los Blancos this summer at the end of
his Paris Saint-Germain deal, celebrated his first appearance with a goal.
Fede Valverde broke the deadlock from close range for the
Champions League holders in the 59th minute after the Italian Europa League
winners held their own in the first half.
Madrid began to rack up the chances and Mbappe rifled home in the
68th minute after Jude Bellingham spotted his dart into space in the box to
seal the victory.
Madrid's triumph ensured coach Carlo Ancelotti equalled former Los
Blancos coach Miguel Munoz on a joint-record 14 titles won at the helm of the
club.
The Italian's first task this season is designing a system that
can get the best out of his array of attacking stars.
Mbappe began through the middle of Madrid's forward line, flanked
by Vinicius Junior on the left and Rodrygo Goes on the right, in the first look
at how he might fit into Ancelotti's plans this season.
As a result England international Bellingham played as part of the
midfield trio rather than in the advanced position he began last season in to
such devastating goalscoring effect.
Mbappe's only chance in a tight first half arrived in the 15th
minute but his shot from the middle of the box was well blocked by Isak Hien.
Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta, appearing in their first Super
Cup after stunning Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final last season,
came close to taking the lead when Eder Militao headed Marten de Roon's cross
ahead his own bar.
Bellingham was booked for a late challenge on Atalanta goalkeeper
Juan Musso on a foray forward from midfield after taking a heavy touch to
control a clever ball from Vinicius.
Rodrygo clipped the top of Atalanta's crossbar just before the
break after being teed up by Vinicius.
Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois, who missed most of last season
injured, produced a stunning one-handed save to tip over a Mario Pasalic header
at the start of the second half.
- Mbappe movement -
Madrid broke the deadlock before the hour mark through Valverde,
tapping home from close range while Atalanta's defence worried about Mbappe,
who was moving with more freedom.
Bellingham, increasingly influential, fed Vinicius, who cut the
ball across goal for the Uruguayan midfielder to tap home.
Vinicius should have doubled Madrid's lead when sent through on
goal but Musso tipped over his effort.
Swedish defender Hien blocked from Bellingham as Madrid sought a
second and then Musso thwarted the former Borussia Dortmund man.
Mbappe eventually delivered it with a lethal finish after
Bellingham kept an attack alive and spotted the Frenchman's clever movement.
The
striker was given an ovation by Madrid's fans after Ancelotti brought him off
in the 83rd minute, likely the first of many to follow.


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