 "Kylian Mbappe could feature for Real Madrid when they take on Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. Reuters")
Kylian Mbappe could make his debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta on Wednesday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said the striker arrived in good shape following Euro 2024 and was adapting well to the team after a week of practice.
Mbappe “could play tomorrow,” Ancelotti said on the eve of the UEFA Super Cup, a matchup between the UEFA Champions League and Europa League winners, at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Mbappe, 25, is the biggest draw in the Polish capital after finally joining Madrid following a drawn-out saga with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Frenchman was introduced to the club’s fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last month but wasn’t part of the squad on their US tour while he rested after Euro 2024.
He joins a slew of world-class forwards at Madrid, including Vinicius Júnior, another new signing in Brazil striker Endrick, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Arda Guler.
Ancelotti joked he had a “huge problem” and that thinking about who might play up front “has ruined my holidays.”
“The simplest thing,” the 65-year-old Ancelotti said, “is to know that good players are always going to play and are always going to bring something in.
“There are no problems for us because there are so many games. I can’t think I am going to have to count on the same 11 players for 70-something games.”
Asked if Mbappe’s arrival had changed the atmosphere in the dressing room, Ancelotti said through a translator: “It is a very clean, healthy atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere created by players who have been here like (the recently departed) Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, (Luka) Modric, (Federico) Valverde. There are no princes or kings here.”
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperino wishes all of Madrid’s superstars to play against his team.
“For me it is fundamental that the team plays a good game without thinking about who is there and who isn’t,” Gasperini said.
“I hope the best play, because only with the strongest can you try to gain the maximum respect.”
The Serie A club will start as the underdogs, like it was before beating Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final to win the club’s first European title and first trophy in 61 years.
But Gasperini said Atalanta were not deterred.
“We come with our usual enthusiasm, our usual eagerness to try to impress,” he said.
When is the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid vs Atlanta?
The UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Atlanta is on 14 August (15 August in India).
What time is the UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid vs Atlanta?
The UEFA Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Atlanta starts at 12:30am IST on Thursday. It is 9pm CET or 7pm GMT (Wednesday, 14 August).
How to watch UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid vs Atlanta?
UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atlanta will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network.
Real Madrid vs Atlanta Live Streaming: The UEFA Super Cup will be live streamed on SonyLiv app and website in India.
(with inputs from AP)