Kylian Mbappe could not have anticipated a better start to his Real Madrid career as he scored a debut goal to help his new team win the European Super Cup on Wednesday.
Uruguayan Federico Valverde put the European champions ahead after 59 minutes from close range and Mbappe fired the ball into the top corner from Jude Bellingham’s pass to double the advantage nine minutes later.
Mbappe, who joined Real in June from Paris Saint-Germain, could have netted in the 15th minute but his first-time attempt was blocked by the Atalanta defence.
Real could have doubled their lead through Vinicius following a fine counter-attack and Bellingham wasted two good chances before he set up Mbappe for Real’s second, cutting the ball back for the Frenchman to provide a neat finish.
Italy’s Atalanta, playing in their first Super Cup after winning the Europa League, showed no fear against their illustrious opponents.
“Before the game, we didn’t even talk about (whether he would score), we just expected it to happen,” Man-of-the Match Bellingham told reporters. “It’s a kind of player who writes his own history... Time and time again, he delivers for his team and he did it again tonight.”
Mbappe, who scored 44 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season, clinched his first European trophy after winning seven Ligue 1 titles with PSG and Monaco.
He previously came closest to European glory in 2019-20, when PSG finished Champions League runners-up after losing the final 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
“Mbappe did really well, he adapted really well to the team” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
“He combined well with Vinicius Junior and with Bellingham. Of course, we have a lot of quality, but we have to play together and we did that tonight.”
After joyfully posing with his first continental silverware, Mbappe appeared overwhelmed by emotion.
‘Great moment’
“It was a great night. It’s a great moment for me. And we won a title, which is important — at Madrid you always have to win,” he said.
“I am very happy. And with the goal too — it is important for a striker like me. But the most important thing has been to have the pleasure of playing with this team.”
Mbappe also helped Ancelotti become the coach who has brought the most major trophies to Real Madrid, the Italian levelling the tally of 14 by Miguel Munoz who managed the Spanish giants from 1948-58.
Real clinched a record sixth Super Cup crown to move ahead of Barcelona and AC Milan who have each won the annual match between the Champions League winners and Europa League champions five times.
