3 reasons why Atletico Madrid will beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup
The two Madrid sides once again meet in the final of a European competition as both sides aim to start the season strongly.
Both sides go into this match after a summer of drama and change. Atletico Madrid have invested heavily in the squad and had the added bonus of Antoine Griezmann opting to stay with the club. In contrast, Real Madrid have had to deal with the departures of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo while Luka Modric’s future with the club is uncertain. Julen Lopetegui has the tough task of replicating Zidane’s success with the club.
Los Blancos are aiming for a third consecutive triumph this competition, but it won’t be easy because Atletico will make this a tight and physical game. It’s only a minor competition, so this game matters little in the context of the entire season. However, both sides will be determined to win against their main rivals. Here are three reasons why Atleti will come away victorious.
1. Real Madrid’s transition
The Champions League holders are undergoing a major shift due to the departure of Zidane. He utilised a style which gave the attacking players a lot of freedom, with overloading wide areas to make good crossing opportunities being plan B. This worked well in the Champions League because individual quality saw them through as well as elements of luck at key moments. However, it didn’t bring consistency, so they struggled in the league last season.
Lopetegui is intending to implement a possession-based approach which requires a high technical standard as well as tactical intelligence. This is a significant change due to the differences in style and the requirements on the individual, especially defensively, as they fit within this system, so he may struggle to convince some of the main players of the merit of this approach. A strong start is key in showing that this is the right method for any future success.
The 51-year-old also has to contend with the departure of Ronaldo. He was the face of the team even if he wasn’t the key player, although he did bail them out in a number of Champions League games with important goals. Speaking of key players, Modric has been included in the Super Cup squad, but he has been heavily linked with a move to Inter, so he might not be in the right mentality of for this match.
These events conspire together to make Real Madrid relatively weak. They need to replace Ronaldo’s goals and there is likely to be an internal battle over who is now the main star in the team. Players such as Isco and Marco Asensio have a lot more responsibility on their shoulders and may struggle within the confines of a system. There is also a lot of expectation on Vinicius Junior to have a breakthrough season.
This is their first competitive game under Lopetegui, so there is likely to be teething issues because this is their first real test and the team hasn’t had enough time to properly adjust to Lopetegui’s ideas. Atletico can take advantage of that through their strong organisational skills and clear game plan.