Real Madrid are gearing up for their opening match of the 2024-25 season: Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final against Atalanta, last season’s Europa League winners. Carlo Ancelotti will have a full quota of players to choose from, David Alaba aside.
The match in Warsaw will be Kylian Mbappe’s first as a Real Madrid player. The 25-year-old is the marquee signing of the summer, and while big things are expected of him in the Spanish capital, he may not start against Atalanta.
As per Diario AS, Ancelotti is considering keeping faith with the team that started the Champions League final in June. The only two changes would be enforced ones: Eder Militao for Nacho Fernandez, and Luka Modric for Toni Kroos.
That would leave Mbappe on the bench, although he could start ahead of Rodrygo Goes in attack. Equally, Ancelotti may decide to go to the expected 4-3-3, with Modric being the one not to start.
Real Madrid will be determined to collect another piece of silverware next week, although it is a match that Ancelotti can use for experimentation – it could be needed, given that he didn’t have Mbappe or Jude Bellingham for the entirety of pre-season.