Rarely is a match for a European trophy covered by one person. But that's exactly what happened on Wednesday evening at the National Stadium in Warsaw, where Real Madrid and Atalanta Bergamo played for the European Super Cup. Or maybe it would be better to simply write – “where Kylian Mbappe made his debut for Real”? It was the person of the excellent Frenchman, acquired in the summer without a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, who dominated the pre-match anticipation for the Spanish-Italian rivalry.
Before the match, only he mattered
Mbappe was resting after the completely unsuccessful European Championship, he did not play in any friendly match of the “Royal” in the United States, everything was subordinated to this one moment. And one can only be proud that it happened in Poland, because it was in Warsaw that Kylian Mbappe ran onto the pitch in a white in a T-shirt Real Madrid for the first time.
The spectacle began a few dozen minutes before the first whistle of the Swiss referee Sandro Schaerer. When football players Real Madrid ran in for the warm-up, Kylian Mbappe first greeted one part of the National Stadium with applause, then ran the entire width of the pitch to also greet the other of the main stands of the Warsaw facility with applause. He was also observed by the producer showing the warm-up on the stadium screen.
It was also Mbappe's name that received the biggest ovation from the fans during the pre-match line-up presentation. Real fans, who were in the vast majority at the National Stadium, cheered their new player so much that the next stars of the “Royal”, such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, were definitely in the shadow of the excellent Frenchman.
For an hour he was like a foreign body. He searched for his place on the pitch as if it were paradise.
As both teams were led out by Swiss referees to compete for their first trophy of the 2024/25 season, Mbappe seemed impatient to get started on his special day, taking up a position on the halfway line and waiting for the ball to be kicked for the first time.
And although the Frenchman operated in the central part of the “Royal's” offensive, it was hard to call him a typical “number nine”. He often dropped deep to play the ball, making space up front for other Real attackers. However, he did not participate in defensive actions at all – when Real was without the ball, the Frenchman trotted around the Atalanta defenders. Already in the third minute, he was fouled for the first time in his new colors – the author of the foul was Isak Hien. He had his first opportunity to score a goal in the 15th minute, when he was blocked in the penalty area after an action by Federico Valverde.
The fans reacted to his every move. When he tricked Isak Hien with a spectacular roulette in the 25th minute, the Real fans cheered. When Charles de Ketelaere, who was returning, took the ball from him a moment later, the Atalanta fans celebrated as if he had scored a goal. Later, however, the Frenchman began to have more and more problems. In the center of the attack, he was effectively eliminated by the athletic Isak Hien, so he began to look for space in other areas of the pitch. Without success. The first half in his performance could be called anonymous.
As soon as the second half started, Mbappe showed off his skills on the left wing, but after entrance he made a terrible shot into the penalty area. Although this should change over time, for long moments he looked like a foreign body – a player who was playing his own game, while his teammates were suggesting something else. The most important actions, such as the one with Valverde's goal, bypassed the French star, and in order to win against Atalanta, Real Madrid players used their understanding from previous seasons.
Dream debut! Kylian Mbappe in Warsaw began writing a legend at Real Madrid
But the 68th minute came and finally it worked! Although in a dangerous counterattack by Real, Vinicius Junior passed to Kylian Mbappe inaccurately, the best player on the pitch, Jude Bellingham, got to the ball and laid the ball out for the Frenchman to run in, so that he had no choice but to beat Atalanta Bergamo goalkeeper Juan Musso from about 11 meters. Mbappe hit it perfectly, into the top corner and after a moment he was able to present his iconic celebration for the first time in a white Real jersey. He did it! In his first accurate shot in his new colors.
After scoring the goal for 2-0, all the pressure was off the debuting 26-year-old. Confident in his position, he exchanged passes with other teammates, and also passed the ball well into the penalty area to Rodrygo, but he couldn't find the net from a tight angle.
Kylian Mbappe's debut appearance lasted 83 minutes. After that time Carlo Ancelotti he secured a huge ovation from the Warsaw stands, which said goodbye to the excellent Frenchman. This was also the case for Jude Bellingham a moment later, and not necessarily for Vinicius Junior, whose exit was met with applause and whistles.
Kylian Mbappe could be completely happy with his performance – the first goal and the first trophy, even despite an unsatisfactory individual performance, make it difficult for Mbappe to imagine a better debut in his new club. Kylian Mbappe began writing a new Real Madrid legend in Warsaw.
Kylian Mbappe's numbers in his Real Madrid debut according to Sofascore:
- 83 minutes
- 1 goal
- ball contacts: 43
- shots: 3
- Shots on target: 1
- dribbles: 2/4
- passes: 24/28 (86%)
- Crosses: 0/1
- long balls: 1/1
- ground duels: 5/8
- air duels: 0/1
- losses: 11
- fouls on him: 3