The prestigious UEFA Super Cup sees the 2024 Champions League and Europa League winners go head-to-head in a one-off final match, with the opportunity to win more silverware.
The final is always played at a neutral venue, and this year the game will be at the PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Poland. You can follow along with Tonybet to get the latest fixtures and pre-match bets.
Last year, the final was between Manchester City and Sevilla, with the English champions coming out on top, winning 5-4 on penalties.
However, this time around, there will be a new name on the trophy, and viewers in the UK can tune in and watch the match on TNT Sports.
Real Madrid have been here eight times before
Real Madrid are no strangers to the UEFA Super Cup final, having lifted the Champions League no less than 15 times. The Super Cup was created in 1971, and by that point Real Madrid had already won six European Cup titles.
However, with five Super Cup titles to their name, they have the most out of any other European club. Atalanta, on the other hand, will be looking for their first.
The last time Real Madrid won the Super Cup was in 2022. Having beaten Liverpool in the Champions League final, they came up against Eintracht Frankfurt, and ran out 2-0 comfortable winners. After a year’s absence from the final, the Spanish giants will be keen to add another to their growing collection.
Real Madrid won La Liga last year, and head into this final wanting to start their season on a positive note. Competitive friendlies against AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea will have Carlo Ancelotti’s side primed and ready to land another trophy.
So, how will they line up? Ancelotti is likely to welcome back Jude Bellingham from an extended break after England reached the Euros final. The midfielder had a sensational breakout season in Spain, scoring 23 goals across all competitions. He may not start the match, but he could prove key if Real Madrid are to break down Atalanta.
However, Ancelotti’s side are not reliant on him as they have Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo on either flank. The former is on track to win the Ballon d’Or in 2024 after a sublime season for his club. Scoring 24 goals and providing 10 assists, the 24-year-old stole the show at the Bernabéu.
If those three players are not enough for the Italian side to be worried about, Kylian Mbappé could be in line to make his official debut. The former PSG striker is one of the best strikers in world football and Real Madrid will take some stopping across all competitions in the upcoming campaign.
And we haven’t even mentioned teenage sensation Endrick, who was brought in from Palmeiras for over £50m. The 18-year-old forward has shown what he’s all about in Brazil and many fans are excited to see what he can do at his new club.
Real Madrid’s attacking players are some of the best in the world and we could see the vast majority of them on display in Warsaw.
Atalanta – the newcomers
This will be Atalanta’s first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup final, as last year was the first time the club had won a European competition.
Although new to the final, it isn’t quite David vs Goliath. Atalanta finished fourth in Serie A in the last campaign and will play in the Champions League this time around.
Forward Gianluca Scamacca was key for the club en route to the Europa League final, scoring six in 11 appearances. Domestically, he scored 12 in 29 matches, and chipped in with six assists. The 25-year-old will play a vital role if the Italian club is to beat Real Madrid in Poland.
The Italian side have a Brazilian of their own who has attracted plenty of attention for his performances in the middle of the pitch. Ederson (25) was part of Brazil’s squad at the Copa América over the summer, but he failed to make it onto the pitch. Still, Atalanta fans will be happy that he is well rested and ready to start against the Spanish champions.
Atalanta aren’t just reliant on Ederson to pull the strings in the middle, or Scamacca’s goals. Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners has consistently scored goals throughout his career, reaching double digits domestically for the past two seasons.
Although Atalanta will be seen as the underdogs, Real Madrid will need to be wary. Atalanta hammered Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final, and that was the German side’s first defeat all season.
Previous clashes between the two
Real Madrid and Atalanta have only faced each other twice, and the Spanish club won on both occasions. This was back in 2021, when the two teams were drawn together in the round of 16.
Atalanta lost the first leg 1-0, as Ferland Mendy scored in the 86th minute to take a 1-0 lead back to the Bernabéu. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. Swiss international Remo Freuler was sent off in the 17th minute, which changed Atalanta’s game plan early in the match. They did very well to hold Real Madrid for 85 minutes.
However, Real Madrid didn’t have too many problems in the reverse leg, coming out 3-1 winners on the night. A first-half strike from Karim Benzema kick-started things for the hosts, before Sergio Ramos’ second-half penalty put the tie beyond doubt.
Luis Muriel pulled one back for Atalanta, but it was only to be a consolation, as Marco Asensio secured a place in the quarter-finals with a goal six minutes from time.
However, this is a completely different match, and while it was only three years ago, many players have moved on from both teams. In fact, all of the goalscorers across the two legs no longer play for Real Madrid or Atalanta.
The smart money
Real Madrid are comfortable favourites to win the UEFA Super Cup final within 90 minutes. The market doesn’t expect the Spanish club to need penalties as they look to pick up yet another trophy.
However, with the price being so short, there are a few other options that might interest bettors. For those looking to back a goalscorer on the night, it makes logical sense to back Real Madrid’s Brazilian star.
Of course, we’re referring to Vinícius Júnior, who not only scored six Champions League goals, but also effectively scored the winner in the final against Dortmund. The 24-year-old is a big-game player, and he’ll no doubt be rubbing his hands together ahead of another final for his beloved club.
For those interested in betting on a striker, can Real Madrid’s new forward make a statement from the very beginning? Kylian Mbappé didn’t have the best Euros due to his face injury suffered in the group stage, but the 25-year-old scored 43 goals last year in 47 appearances. With some of the best wingers in the world around him, expect the Frenchman to get plenty of opportunities in front of goal.
However, the Spanish side may not get it all their own way. As mentioned earlier, Atalanta hammered Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final, and have multiple players who can score for them in Warsaw. Backing both teams to score is a better price than betting on Real Madrid to win the match, and this could be more open than people realise.
With tired players from the Euros and the Copa América, defences may not be on top of their game, and Atalanta can trouble Real Madrid’s backline. The Spanish giants are still expected to come out on top, so backing them to win yet another title but both teams finding the back of the net looks to be the ideal bet away from the goalscorer markets.
Either way, this looks like it will be an entertaining match for the neutral, and with that in mind, we are expecting plenty of goals. Don’t miss a thing and keep up with the sporting fixtures on Tonybet!
