After years of waiting to play for his ideal team, the French forward sensation finally joined Los Blancos this summer upon his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, and he celebrated his debut with a goal, as per AFP.
After the Italian Europa League winners held their own in the first half, Fede Valverde broke the tie for the holders of the Champions League in the 59th minute with a close-range shot.
Madrid started to build momentum, and in the 68th minute, Mbappe scored a spectacular goal to secure the win after Jude Bellingham had spotted his run into space in the box.
“It was a great night, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Mbappe told Movistar, speaking in fluent Spanish.
“To play with this shirt, with this badge, for these fans, it’s a gift for me.
“We won a trophy too, that’s very important, we know that here we always have to win and I am very happy.”
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With Madrid’s victory, head coach Carlo Ancelotti tied previous Los Blancos coach Miguel Munoz for the most titles won as a club manager with 14.
This season, the Italian’s first priority is creating a system that would maximize the performance of his wide range of attacking players.
Initially, Mbappe started in the middle of Madrid’s front line, with Vinicius Junior on the left and Rodrygo Goes on the right, giving an indication of how Ancelotti may use him this season.
Consequently, Bellingham, an England international, did not play in the forward position he started last season with such devastating goal scoring effect; instead, he was a member of the midfield trio.
“(Mbappe) has the quality to score a lot of goals,” Ancelotti told Movistar.
“What we have to look for is balance in the team — today we didn’t have that balance.”
In a close first half, Mbappe’s best opportunity came in the fifteenth minute, but Isak Hien expertly blocked his attempt from the middle of the box.
After shocking Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final the previous season, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta made their Super Cup debut. Eder Militao nearly gave them the lead by heading Marten de Roon’s cross over his own bar.
Bellingham took a hard touch to control a deft pass from Vinicius and was booked for a late push on Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso during a raid forward from midfield.
Vinicius set Rodrygo up, and he clipped the top of Atalanta’s crossbar right before halftime.
At the beginning of the second half, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was injured for the majority of the previous season, made an incredible one-handed save to deflect a header by Mario Pasalic.
At the beginning of the second half, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was injured for the majority of the previous season, made an incredible one-handed save to deflect a header by Mario Pasalic.
Mbappe movement
Before the hour, Valverde of Real Madrid broke the tie with a close-range tap-in as Atalanta’s defense fretted over Mbappe’s increased freedom of movement.
Vinicius, who was becoming more and more important, feed Bellingham, who then sliced the ball across the goal for the Uruguayan midfielder to score.
When Vinicius was let through on goal, Musso knocked over his attempt, which would have doubled Madrid’s lead.
As Madrid attempted a second, Swedish defender Hien stopped Bellingham, and Musso then stopped the former Borussia Dortmund player.
Eventually, Mbappe finished it with a deadly flourish after Bellingham stalled an attempt and saw the Frenchman’s deft move.
The Madrid supporters applauded the striker as Ancelotti took him off the field in the 83rd minute, probably the first of many that to come.
Mbappe stated that he anticipated getting better in the upcoming weeks. Real Mallorca will be Madrid’s first La Liga opponent on Saturday.
“I am sure we will get better and me first of all — but today is a positive step,” added the striker.
