Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored a goal and raised a trophy on debut for Real Madrid.
The France captain pulled on the white jersey of the Spanish champions for the first time in a competitive match and marked the occasion with the second goal in their 2-0 win over Atalanta BC in the UEFA Super Cup.
Mbappe, who started and played 82 minutes at the National Stadium in Warsaw, met a pass from Jude Bellingham across the area with a shot into the top corner in the 68th minute.
Photo: EPA-EFE
After putting both arms across his chest in celebration, he was congratulated by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, the other members of Madrid’s star-studded strike force that might be sending tremors across European soccer heading into the new season.
Federico Valverde tapped home a cross from Vinicius in the 59th minute to set Madrid on their way to a record sixth victory in the Super Cup, the annual match between the UEFA Champions League winners (Madrid) and the UEFA Europa League champions (Atalanta).
Madrid are used to records — no team has more UEFA European Cup titles than their 15 — and owning the world’s best players.
Photo: Reuters
Mbappe certainly belongs in that category and it was a strong start to life at the world’s top soccer club, one he dreamed of playing for as a child.
Now he is Madrid’s No. 9, starting the Super Cup as the team’s central striker — to limited success — before moving out wide for the second half.
However, Vinicius and Bellingham, stars of Madrid’s runs to the Champions League and La Liga titles last season, were the game’s standout players as Carlo Ancelotti’s team eventually overpowered Atalanta after an even first half that saw both sides hit the crossbar.
Madrid defender Eder Militao deflected a cross onto his own bar, before Rodrygo fired in a shot just before halftime that struck the top of the bar.
Mbappe wowed the crowd with a couple of tricks and spins, but did not make too much of an impact in the first half.
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