KYLIAN Mbappe was on target tonight on his official Real Madrid debut as the Spanish club defeated Atalanta 2-0 to win the 2024 UEFA Super Cup.
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman stood out for the UEFA Europa League winners but the UEFA Champions League holders were ruthless in the second half, in which they scored both goals.
Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in May as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to clinch their first-ever piece of European silverware, led the line brilliantly as Atalanta looked the sharper side in the first half.
However, it was Real Madrid who struck after the break with two goals in nine minutes from Federico Valverde and Mbappe.
The 14-time European champions opened the scoring in the 59th minute when Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso’s poor clearance under pressure was intercepted, Vinicius pulled back from the by-line and found Valverde totally unmarked to tap in from close range.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men almost got two more in the next few minutes, but Musso was decisive, first in a one-on-one with Vinicius, then to claw a deflected Bellingham effort off the line on the resulting corner.
Musso was also alert to save Bellingham’s angled drive at the near post, but could do nothing when Bellingham laid it off for Mbappé to fire in first time into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
With the victory, Real Madrid claimed their sixth UEFA Super Cup triumph as Atalanta learned a valuable lesson that will be useful in the Champions League.
