European SuperCup Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta

Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta (Valverde & Mbappé). Another trophy in the cabinet. Here is my reaction to the first match of the season. More celebrations on the way: Player ratings, post game quotes and the podcast.

Fans would have to wait no more to see Kylian Mbappé walk onto the field of play in a Real Madrid kit, with the Frenchman getting to opportunity to lift some silverware from the get go on his debut. Europa League winners Atalanta formed a SuperCup final with Real, after their Champions League triumph last season. Kylian started as the number nine, in a front three with both Rodrygo Goes and Vinícius Júnior. Jude Bellingham sat in the midfield with the new number eight Fede Valverde. Despite finishing training early with an injury, Eduardo Camavinga made the bench tonight. Dani Carvajal captained the team tonight.

The first fifteen minutes consisted of pure entertainment, mixed with relief that the Kylian Mbappé transfer saga was over, and he was finally ours. Some nice touches and link-ups with his new teammates was good to see - but Atalanta quickly grew in confidence at the other end. They had the first two real chances, with a deflected cross bouncing off of the crossbar, and a long ranged effort flying wide. Aurélien Tchouaméni had a funny first half, getting in the way of Thibaut Courtois twice, and almost making his side pay with a sloppy sideways pass on the half-way line. Rodrygo Goes almost sent Madrid into half time perfectly, with his surprise effort hitting the bar after a great pass from Vinícius Júnior to find him. Half time, 0-0.