Will Kylian Mbappe play for Real Madrid against Atalanta? Spanish journalist provides update
New Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to start the UEFA Super Cup clash with reigning UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw on Wednesday (August 14). The game will mark Mbappe's Los Blancos debut.
The 25-year-old arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer on a free transfer following a prolific seven-season spell at PSG, where he scored a club record 256 goals.
Mbappe was excluded from Los Blancos' pre-season tour of the US due to his deep run with France at Euro 2024. Les Bleus lost 2-1 to eventual winners Spain in the semi-final, with the striker contributing a goal and two assists in five games.
Having reported for training at his new club a week ago, Kylian Mbappe is set to start on his Los Blancos competitive debut - as per Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre (via Madrid Universal) - and a chance to win his first silverware with his new side.
Los Blancos are coming off a decent pre-season tour of the US, winning one of three games.
Records awaiting Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup
Real Madrid are making a record-equalling ninth appearance in the UEFA Super Cup - with their arch-rivals Barcelona being the only other team to register this accomplishment.
Moreover, Carlo Ancelotti's side have won five UEFA Super Cups, a tally tied with Barcelona and AC Milan. So, a win over Atalanta in midweek will give them the outright lead in the competition leaderboard.
Ancelotti is tied with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (4) for most wins in the competition as a manager. Moreover, the Italian, along with Guardiola, are two of only five men to win the UEFA Super Cup as both player and manager. The others are Diego Simeone, Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane.
With Toni Kroos (4) now retired, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric will become the first players to win the competition five times if Los Blancos beat Atalanta in midweek. The duo are also set to become the first players to win the Super Cup five times with the same club, with only Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) and Karim Benzema (Los Blancos) winning four times with one club.
Since Real Madrid's loss to Atletico Madrid in 2018 on penalties (4-2), the reigning UEFA Champions League winners have won the Super Cup in the last six years, including Los Blancos (2022), beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0.