The story could not have started better: French striker Kylian Mbappé made a successful debut with Real Madrid by leading his team to a sixth European Super Cup title against Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday in Warsaw (2-0).
Rather discreet despite several classy gestures in a match which had just turned to Real’s advantage, the new number 9 of the Casa Blanca doubled the lead in the 68th minutee minute by taking a perfect cross from Jude Bellingham with his right foot, allowing the King of Europe to head towards a first title and get his season off to a perfect start.
“Who says Real Madrid says titles! We have to win here, so first match winning a title is very important. For a player like me being decisive straight away makes an impression, so I’m very happy,” declared the captain of the French team on Canal +.
“It was a great night, I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Playing with this jersey, with this badge, for these supporters“It’s a gift for me,” he added to the Spanish channel Movistar.
Mbappé, who did not take part in the pre-season tour in the United States with his teammates to prepare physically on his own, logically lacked benchmarks and rhythm for his return to competition.
But he played a full match, true to his state of mind and his promise to “give his life” for the club of his dreams, which he ended up joining in June after seven years of an interminable saga.
Released at 83e minute under an ovation from his supporters, the former Paris Saint-Germain striker could have made the difference earlier in the match, but he came up against the arm of Swedish defender Isak Hien (15e minute of play).
Mbappé finishes the job
History may forget it, but it was Atalanta, winners of the Europa League by ending Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run, who almost took the lead shortly after this first opportunity from the French player, when Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saw a deflected cross crash against his bar (25e).
She will also forget that Real seemed to show limitations in the game in the first half, without their German metronome Toni Kroos, who retired at 34 at the peak of his career, before accelerating under the impetus of the two strong men of their historic hat-trick last season, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
With a delicious left-footed shot, the Brazilian came close to offering a new caviar to his mate Rodrygo, who also hit the bar (45e+ 1), before putting stifling pressure on the Dea goal, whose defense cracked after the break, on a number from “Vini” on his left wing to serve Federico Valverde at the far post (59e1-0).
The Seleção striker could have stolen the limelight from his new teammate by winning his one-on-one with Musso and scoring twice a few seconds later (61e), but the Argentinian goalkeeper pushed the deadline back… By just seven minutes.
In the right place at the right time to make the break, Mbappé finished the job with a goal-scoring move into the top corner (68th, 2-0). Enough to lift a first trophy, but surely not the last.