The former Paris Saint-Germain star made a flawless debut for his new team, with Jude Bellingham also excelling in a convincing victory.
The Kylian Mbappe era has officially started, and it could pose a significant threat to other teams. Real Madrid’s new signing made a strong first impression by scoring in their 2-0 win over Europa League champions Atalanta during the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on Wednesday.
Mbappe wasn’t the only standout. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo also played key roles, with their collective performance shining in the second half and leading Madrid to a comfortable win.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side struggled in the first half, with the attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo failing to sync up. Rodrygo came the closest to scoring before halftime, hitting the crossbar with a powerful shot.
After the break, Thibaut Courtois made an important save to keep Real Madrid in contention. Vinicius opened the scoring just before the 60-minute mark, skillfully advancing down the wing and passing to Federico Valverde, who finished into an open net. Mbappe added a second goal nine minutes later, firing Bellingham’s pass into the top corner.
That was all Real Madrid needed for the win. Although Vinicius and Mbappe continued to search for more goals, none were added. Nonetheless, Madrid maintained full control, and the troubling aspect for their competitors is that they are likely to continue improving.
GOAL assesses Real Madrid’s players from the National Stadium in Warsaw…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Thibaut Courtois (8/10):
Delivered an extraordinary save just after halftime and made several other crucial stops throughout the match.
Dani Carvajal (7/10):
Performed well at right-back, taking on a more defensive role compared to last season. Also engaged in some physical confrontations as captain.
Eder Militao (6/10):
Displayed some inconsistency and was occasionally beaten by dribblers. Still seems to be recovering from his ACL injury.
Antonio Rudiger (8/10):
Consistently dealt with defensive challenges and made timely advances when necessary, while also limiting Ademola Lookman’s impact.
Ferland Mendy (6/10):
Faced significant pressure early on as Madrid’s left side appeared unorganized, but improved as the game progressed.
Midfield
Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):
Performed his role effectively at the base of midfield, though his ball control could have been cleaner.
Federico Valverde (7/10):
Covered a lot of ground and provided defensive support when others advanced. Also scored the opening goal with a simple finish.
Jude Bellingham (8/10):
Received a yellow card for a careless foul but excelled in the second half. Assisted Mbappe and showcased his dribbling skills, looking every bit the reigning La Liga Player of the Year after the break.
Attack
Rodrygo (7/10):
Hit the crossbar just before halftime and was involved in the buildup to the opening goal.
Kylian Mbappe (8/10):
Initially struggled to get involved but then scored with a powerful shot into the top corner. This could become a regular occurrence if he plays as a No.9.
Vinicius Jr. (8/10):
Dropped deeper than usual at times but came to life after halftime, assisting Valverde. His chemistry with Mbappe might take some time to fully develop.
Subs & Manager
Luka Modric (7/10):
Provided some excellent passes and showed his experience.
Brahim Diaz (N/A):
Did not have enough time to make an impact.
Lucas Vazquez (N/A):
Came on to provide fresh legs for Carvajal.
Arda Guler (N/A):
Had a very brief appearance.
Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):
Opted for an aggressively attacking formation. His team struggled in the first half but improved significantly after the break. The team is expected to be formidable this season.
