Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet for the tenth time in European competition on Wednesday night when they play each other in Estonia for the UEFA Super Cup. Los Blancos beat Liverpool in the final of last year’s Champions League, while Atletico beat Marseille in the final of the Europa League.
This will also be a replay of two recent Champions League finals, 2014 and 2016, with Real Madrid winning both, the first through extra time and the second in a penalty shootout.
It’s been all change for Real Madrid this summer though, with two significant individuals departing the club. Manager Zinedine Zidane had guided the team to three consecutive Champions League titles, while star player and record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, also left the club to join Juventus. Former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui has since taken charge, while Thibaut Courtois, Real Sociedad defender Alvaro Odriozola and Brazilian teenage sensation Vinicius Junior have since joined the club.
As for Atletico, they exited the Champions League at the group stage last year, where they also lost to Chelsea. However, they made it to the Europa League final, comprehensively beating Arsenal on the way before winning 3-0 in the final. Antoine Griezmann was the star that night and they’ll be hoping that the Frenchman can once again guide them to a famous win.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid Predictions
The two previous games between these two in finals have both gone to extra time, but I sense that this might not be the case here. Atletico have an advantage in the sense that they’ve been playing the same way under Diego Simeone for longer than Real have under Lopetegui. But I see Los Blancos winning it with their star quality showing through.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid Betting Tips
Head to Head
- Real Madrid became the first club to claim three successive UEFA Champions League titles in 2017/18, and the first team to twice win the European Cup three years in a row. They are now attempting to add to that with another slice of history, by becoming the first side to win three successive UEFA Super Cups.
- Atlético, however, have never lost in this competition having won on both their previous appearances, in 2010 and 2012.
- Whoever wins in Tallinn, this will be a fifth successive UEFA Super Cup for Spain, who have won eight of the last nine matches.
- This is Real Madrid’s seventh appearance in the UEFA Super Cup (W4 L2), having lost their first two finals, they have won the last four.
- In 2017, Real Madrid became the first team to win successive UEFA Super Cups since Milan in 1989 and 1990. This year, they can become the first to win three in a row.
- Real Madrid have won four UEFA Super Cups; only Milan and Barcelona, with five apiece, have won more.
- This is Atlético’s third UEFA Super Cup appearance, all in the past nine years. Atlético have won their two previous fixtures in this competition, both in Monaco: (Inter Milan 0-2, Chelsea 1-4).
- Atlético can become the first club to make it three victories from three in this competition; they are currently level with Anderlecht, Juventus and Valencia on two wins from two.
- This will be the teams’ tenth international fixture, the previous nine all coming in the European Cup – including the UEFA Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, both won by Real Madrid. Indeed, the Merengues have won all five of the clubs’ European ties to date.
- The sides’ most recent European fixtures came in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, when Real Madrid won 4-2 on aggregate.
- Real Madrid have scored in their last 30 UEFA matches.
- Griezmann has scored five of Atlético’s last eight European goals.
Real Madrid Team News
Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have all played in pre-season and are all likely to start on Wednesday night. Keylor Navas could also start ahead of new signing Thibaut Courtois in goal, but Luka Modric could be made to start on the bench, having played just 15 minutes of pre-season. Julen Lopetugui was going to give Jesus Vallejo an opportunity, but the defender is out through injury.
Possible Real Madrid Team: Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Isco, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema
Atletico Madrid Team News
Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez look set to start on the bench, but Thomas Lemar could be in the first team, alongside fellow new signing Gelson Martins. Nikola Kalinic is another who could make his debut, having been kicked out of the Croatia squad in Russia before the end of the group stages.
Possible Atletico Madrid Team: Jan Oblak, Juanfran, Diego Godin, Stefan Savic, Filipe Luis, Koke, Saul, Rodri, Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa, Nikola Kalinic
@dominictrant
