For a long time, fans of football have been waiting for a match between the top European teams and saw the world gently introduced to Kylian Mbappe when he took part in his first match for Real Madrid; he scored a goal during their victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. They arrived from France, was the subject of transfer talks during the entire summer, and was expected to be a real revelation in the team of Real Madrid, which he became. This 3-1 triumph of Madrid against Atalanta in this inspiring European championship was not merely another badge of honour’ for this club, but also announced to the world how much this club meant business, especially with Mbappé in their ranks.
When the match was scheduled to start at the packed Olympic Stadium in Athens, fans were already on the edge of their seats keenly waiting to catch a glimpse of Mbappé in Real Madrid colours. By almost a tradition, the UEFA Super Cup is a match between the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League champions but this time, the story was quintessentially different.
The fireworks maker of last season ‘Mbappé,’ who had upset the French champions Paris Saint-Germain by deciding to leave the club, had decided to join the Spanish giants, turning down other clubs’ propositions. The fans of jazz were waiting with bated breath to find out whether his first performance as a professional musician of jazz was a success.
Since the sounding of the first whistle in the match Real Madrid seemed to have found the player that it had been looking for all along . Mbappé began the match in the attacking line, accompanied by Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo: the trio threatened the Atalanta backline. Mbappé did not take long to make a difference.
Already in the 23rd minute, he had a lovely through ball laid for him by Luka Modrić and with his speed, he was able to run past Atalanta’s defenders. As usual, Mbappé scored this in a very calm manner that he has come to be known for, slipping the ball past the goalkeeper and taking the Madrid fans to euphoria. It was an epitome of avowal and breaking of balloon to commence his career in the highest level of football.
It was not only an Mbappé klinika, but a demonstration of Real Madrid’s composite attacking play led by Carlo Ancelotti. The team, particularly with the addition of this new signing, moved fluid and confidently, which never fails to remind me something of the Madrid of old. Mbappé’s goal must have set the theme for the rest of the match because Real Madrid plundered Atalanta throughout the match by possessing more of the ball and forcing Atalanta to defend wave after wave of attack.
However, due to Mbappé’s goal, Atalanta was able to show great fight. This Italian pictured Serie A team that has featured a very fluid, and at time, very attack minded type of play, was not going to sit idly by. In the first of the two halves, they leveled up with a header by Duván Zapata in the 45th minute after a cross by Davide Zappacosti. The goal shocked the Madrid fans and proved that Atalanta is not going to lie down and die. The first half was finished with the score 1-1, so there was still all to look forward to in the second half.
In the second half, the outlook changed and Real Madrid fought back with much vigour and it did not take long for them regain the lead. The second goal was scored in the 58th minute when Rodrygo was left unmarked on the right flank and crossed the ball to Vinicius Junior in the box who headed mercillessly into the bottom corner.
The 28-year-old Brazilian, who has been in incredible form in the last one year, was again at his best yesterday, underlining his status as one of the most potent forwards in Europe. At the start of the second half, with the score leveled at 2-1, Real Madrid started to take command of the game and prevented Atalanta FC to come near their penalty area.
Mbappé also remained an important figure in the match and constantly walked into the aromas and left the sphere that his partners created for him. His ball control, speed and passing was astounding and he created some beautiful attacking moves that could have warranted more goals for Madrid. What was clear was that Mbappé had settled well into the Madrid team and was flourishing in the team’s attacking style.
During the rest of the encounter, Atalanta could not recover its dynamism and Madrid’s middle of the park, with Luka Modrić and the vigorous Eduardo Camavinga, locked down the match. In the last fifteen minutes of the half, Madrid added a third goal through Joselu coming from the bench to put the issue to closure with a smart pass from Modrić. The scoreline of 3-1 correspond to the dominance of Real Madrid on the night and it was so, they won the UEFA Super Cup for the 8th time in their storied history.
In Mbappé’s case, the night could not have been any better. Opening his account in his first final against a team from a top European league, he won the hearts of Real Madrid supporters, who have long wished to see him in the white and blacks. His display suggested the power he offers the team, and there is little doubt that Mbappé will play key role at Madrid and, particularly, in the team’s title challenges in La Liga and Champions League.
The victory in the UEFA Super Cup also sends a clear message to the rest of Europe: Real Madrid is as imposing as it was in the past and with Mbappé at the helm, they are capable of going for every trophy. It must be said that initially, the span of interested in Real Madrid and their new addition is at the highest level as the new season starts. Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé has finally touched down in Madrid, and his performances’ start the beginning of what could be one of Real Madrid’s most exhilarating sagas of their glorious history.
