Real Madrid ended the 2023-24 season by winning their 15th Champions League title and now, they are going to start the new campaign this week by facing Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.
In recent seasons, Madrid have been the best team in all of Europe’s top competitions and Carlo Ancelotti will be eager to keep hold of that title this time around as well. The Los Blancos played a couple of games in their pre-season tour of the United States and on Wednesday, they head to the Stadion Narodowy in Poland for their first competitive match of the 24/25 campaign.
Real Madrid’s team news for the Super Cup:
Real Madrid have not made any major splashes in the transfer market this summer but they have finally managed to sign Kylian Mbappe who is going to get his first competitive start for Madrid this week.
Mbappe is primarily a left-winger but there’s no doubt that Carlo Ancelotti will use him as a centre-forward this season with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo operating as the two wide players.
Toni Kroos has called time on his playing career which means Tchouameni and Camavinga will have to step up in central midfield and fill the German’s boots. However, since this is the first game of the season, the Real Madrid manager could use the more experienced Luka Modric in the middle of the pitch.
Jude Bellingham had a superb season last time around, scoring 23 goals and he will be itching to get back on the pitch but because he played 7 matches for England during the EURO, Carlo Ancelotti might start him on the bench against Atalanta.
David Alaba has been out for a long time due to an ACL injury and according to a report in MARCA, the defender’s recovery has been really slow. Real Madrid cannot provide a potential return date and now, there are fears that the centre-back could be out until 2025.
Alaba is out injured while Nacho has left the club as a free agent which means Rudiger and Eder Militao are the only two fit centre-backs left in the squad. If Marca’s report is correct and David Alaba is ruled out for the next three to four months then it will be a massive headache for the manager.
Real Madrid predicted line up vs Atalanta:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois.
Defenders: Mendy, Carvajal, Militao, Antonio Rudiger.
Midfielders: Valverde, Tchouameni, Luka Modric/Bellingham.
Attackers: Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo.
