Real Madrid vs Atalanta Preview & Prediction | 2024 UEFA Super Cup
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The curtain raiser for the 2024/25 season in European football takes place at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland as 15-time European champions Real Madrid take on last season’s UEFA Europa League winners, Atalanta.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday 14th August, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 1 & TNT Sports Ultimate / US – CBS Sports Network
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
REAL MADRID PREVIEW: LOS BLANCOS’ DRIVE FOR SILVERWARE
Real Madrid hoover up trophies and especially European trophies. Los Blancos are preparing for the defence of both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this summer on the back of a summer transfer window in which president Florentino Perez may well be in the midst of creating another ‘galacticos’ project.
Madrid have brought on France captain Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain as well as Brazilian starlet Endrick from Palmeiras to further stack their attacking options. They have lost some stalwarts this summer, though, such as Nacho Fernandez, Toni Kroos and Joselu.
ATALANTA PREVIEW: A POTENTIALLY FAMOUS BERGAMASCI EVENING
Under the management of Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta won their first ever European trophy last season when they impressively defeated Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin by three goals to nil – that was the only defeat of Leverkusen’s season, too, as they won both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal under Xabi Alonso.
The Serie A side also reached the final of the Coppa Italia and managed to finish fourth in the league as they enjoyed an impressive campaign. Atalanta have only ever won two major honours in their history so even though many will not place importance on a UEFA Super Cup; it does have significance for the Italians.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: ONLY ALABA REMAINS OUT
Austrian international defender David Alaba has been unavailable for Real Madrid for around 12 months now and the former Bayern Munich man does remain injured but is hoping to be back in action by October.
The most intriguing part of the discussion surrounding the Madrid side is how they try to get Mbappe into the side with the prospect of a front three including him as well as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo a tantalising one.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
UNAVAILABLE: Alaba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATALANTA TEAM NEWS: ADDITIONAL HEADING HERE
On their way to a magnificent end to the season, Gasperini and Atalanta benefitted from the excellent, improved form of Italy international striker Gianluca Scamacca. However, the former West Ham United man has since suffered an ACL injury that will see him out of action for a while.
As well as Scamacca, his Azzurri teammate and promising talent at the back Giorgio Scalvini will remain unavailable after failing to recover from an injury that saw him miss out on UEFA EURO 2024.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Toloi, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Lookman
UNAVAILABLE: Scalvini (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL MADRID VS ATALANTA PREDICTION
There are a few reasons to be a little concerned about the project and the balance of this Real Madrid but the fact of the matter is that the starting point of the argument being: “it literally can’t get any better” does not necessarily mean it will get worse. Atalanta will be confident of scoring against the Madrid defence, despite the now full fitness of Thibaut Courtois, but it remains foolish to back against European royalty.
REAL MADRID VS ATALANTA TIP: REAL MADRID TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
