UEFA Super Cup: where to watch Real Madrid vs. Watch Atalanta, start time, what you need to know, will Kylian Mbappe play?

This week, as Europe’s major football competitions return, could be the first chance to see Kylian Mbappe in action for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, as Los Blancos take on Atalanta on Wednesday, August 14. After signing from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer, Mbappe did not take part in Real Madrid’s pre-season tour of the United States, but he is training in preparation for the season.

Champions League winners Real Madrid will meet Europa League winners Atalanta and both sides will look very different. Atalanta forward Gianluca Scamacca tore his cruciate ligament during a preseason friendly. He will miss at least six months as the injury now puts more pressure on Ademola Lookman leading the attack.

How to watch and odds

• Date: Wednesday August 14 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
• Location: Narodowy Stadium — Warsaw, Poland
• TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: Biggest+
• Chances: Real Madrid-180; Sign +320; Atalanta +460

The clash with Real Madrid will be quite a test for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side before the Serie A season gets underway as they will see a fearsome attack from Los Blancos. Here are a few things to look out for during the match.

Mbappe could make his debut

Real Madrid are ashamed of the riches in their squad as even non-starters like Arda Guler would be the first name on the team sheet for most clubs around the world. It creates a unique conundrum for Carlo Ancelotti about how to orient his first team, but it’s a good one for managers.

Soon we will find out whose team this is between Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Mbappé, but how the season will go will depend on the coexistence of the trio. Others like Rodrygo and Federico Valverde will play a crucial role in support, but Real Madrid will go as far as the big three can take them. Getting things started the right way always makes the season easier and there is no better way to start than in the UEFA Super Cup against a strong Atalanta team.

It is still unclear where Mbappé will actually play, as he and Vini Jr. both operate on the left side of the attack, but given the flexibility of their playing style, that could make Real Madrid even more terrifying. This team has dominated football with and without traditional nines and will relish the opportunity to reinvent their style while remaining at the top of global football.

Scamacca is irreplaceable, but they will try

After ending Bayer Leverkusen’s quest for a perfect season by clinching the Europa League title, Atalanta showed their status as a club on the rise, but this summer has put a dent in that. Gasperini will prepare his team for the challenge ahead, but it is a task made much more difficult by the Scamacca injury. The arrival of Charles De Ketelaere on a permanent deal will help the attack, but there will be a lot of pressure on new signing Mateo Retegui to show he can fill in for Scamacca.

Lookman completed the most productive season of his career with 17 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season, but more will be needed despite not having his partner available. The movement between the duo is one of the things that made Atalanta so dangerous last season and now Gasperini will have to tinker with new ways to get the best out of his attack.

If done right, it could make Atalanta stronger when Scamacca returns, but it could also be quite a long season for La Dea. The Super Cup won’t answer these questions, but it is an event that will provide a first look at two sides looking to make waves.